The Route of the Railway

Map of the railway between Porlezza and Menaggio

Menaggio railway station was situated at the southern end of the town on the opposite side of the road to the Hotel Menaggio. The hotel sits between the main road (Via Regina) and Lake Como, not far from where the lake ferries call. Because of the large difference in height between Menaggio (199 metres above sea level) and the pass at Cardano (377 metres above sea level) 3 km to the west, the line headed south in direction of Griante for approximately 900 metres rising on a slope of 5% (1 in 20). The track ran along the side of mount Crocetta, until reaching the valley of the Valstera torrent where it reversed direction. The switchback ("regresso") was approximately 140 metres in length and built on the level. Here the locomotive was detached from the train, turned on a small turntable and by means of a loop line, run around the train and attached to the other end. This manoeuvre was controlled by waiving red flags, followed by long and short whistles.

Gradient profile of the line between Porlezza and Menaggio

The train then continued its climb in a northerly direction. This section contained several engineering works to keep the curves to not less than 50 metres radius. The railway continued to climb on a slope of 5%, tracing an S shape, crossing the Menaggio Porlezza road before turning west in a wide curve into the Senagra valley. Above the line, and on the left hand side of the railway, stood the hamlet of Croce (423 metres above sea level). The climb was briefly broken by 90 metres of level track through a tunnel near Croce. Approximately 800 metres after the tunnel was the station of Grandola and Uniti, 5 km from Menaggio. The station had a passing loop and a short siding. The waiting room stood on the right (Cardano side) of the line.

After Grandola the railway abandoned the Senagra valley and descended westwards through open countryside towards Porlezza. The route of the railway continued parallel to and on the left side of the road with curves not less than 80 metres in radius. Approximately 1800 metres from Grandola was the station Bene Lario and Grona. The line from this point descended towards the lake of Piano and, 9 km from Menaggio, was the station of Piano di Porlezza (298 metres above sea level). The reed covered lake of Piano (278 metres above sea level) is approximately 1300 metres long and 900 metres wide.

S.Pietro station with a train consisting of a 0-6-4T locomotive, 5 ton wagon and carriage.

Continuing on its journey the train arrived at the station of S. Pietro di Sovero (height 292 metres above sea level), serving Carlazzo and the hamlets and villages of the Cavargna valley to the north. 800 metres beyond the bridge over the Cuccio torrent was the station of Tavordo (283 metres above sea level). Approximately 700 metres from Tavordo the railway crossed the Rezzo torrent, then made a turn to the left in order to avoid the built up area of Porlezza (274 metres above sea level). Porlezza station was built overlooking lake Ceresio (Lake Lugano) and a right angles to the lake.

Unfortunately I have been unable to locate more than brief details about the Ponte Tresa to Luino line. The route followed the Tresa river which drains Lake Lugano into Lake Maggiore at Luino, descending about 70 metres in the process. Consequently the gradients on the line were less steep than on the Menaggio-Porlezza line.