The Story of EclipsesChambers, George F. (George Frederick)
History
The Story of Eclipses
Chambers, George F. (George Frederick)
Eclipses
Observers who think they will be able to do better as regards a clear
sky inland in Spain than near either the coast of Portugal or that of
Spain will still find in many cases that Lisbon is their most convenient
port for landing.
The chief stations on this route are:—Entroncamento Junction (67m.),
Marvão (149m.), Valencia de Alcantara (159m.), *Plasencia (256m.),
*Navalmoral (287m.), *Talavera de la Reina (328m.), Madrid, Delicias
Stat. (412m.). The places marked (*) are all within the shadow track of
the eclipse.
ENTRONCAMENTO (Good Buffet) is the junction station for the lines N. to
Oporto and S.-E. to Badajos and most trains wait here: 8m. beyond, the
Tagus is crossed by a fine bridge commanding good views.
MARVÃO (Custom-house) is the last station in Portugal but the actual
frontier is 6m. further on. VALENCIA DE ALCANTARA (Custom-house) is the
first station in Spain. During the next 50m. the railway passes through
much wild mountain scenery.
PLASENCIA, NAVALMORAL, and TALAVERA as eclipse stations have been
mentioned on a previous page. Many celebrated struggles during the
Peninsular War took place in this part of Spain, notably at Talavera in
1809 and at Almaraz in 1812.
MADRID (pop. 470,000; _Hotel de Paris_, _Hotel de la Paix_).
GIBRALTAR TO MADRID (WITH EXCURSIONS, ON THE WAY, TO GRANADA AND
SEVILLE).
From Algeçiras (opposite Gibraltar) there runs every Wednesday an
International Express train to Madrid and Paris. The eclipse central
line crosses this route about 15m. S. of Alcazar de San Juan Junction
(pop. 8400; Good Buffet, Hotel, _Casa Briseño_) which is 368m. N. of
Algeçiras and 93m. S. of Madrid.
The chief stations between Algeçiras and Madrid are:—Bobadilla Junct.
(110m.), Cordova (185m.), Alcazar de San Juan (369m.), Aranjuez (430m.),
and Madrid (461m.).
Bobadilla is a double junction. A line runs thence E. to Granada
(75m.), and W. to Seville (104m.). A traveller visiting Granada must
return to Bobadilla to get to Seville, but from Seville he can rejoin
the main line at Cordova 75m. N. of Bobadilla, and avoid Bobadilla. From
Seville to Cordova is 81m.
Algeçiras is reached from Gibraltar by a local steamer. About one hour
is allowed to make the connection with the train. Eclipse travellers
going to this part of Spain who wish to take advantage of their
proximity to Granada and Seville will find the following time-table
usefully suggestive:—
May 16, W. Gibraltar to Granada, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
" 17, T. At Granada.
" 18, F. At Granada.
" 19, S. Granada to Seville, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
" 20, Sun. At Seville.
" 21, M. At Seville.
" 22, Tu. Seville to Cordova, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
" 23, W. At Cordova.
" 24, T. Cordova to Alcazar, 2 a.m. to 3 p.m.
" 25, F. At Alcazar.
" 26, S. At Alcazar.
" 27, Sun. At Alcazar.
" 28, M. Eclipse day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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