Polish Steam Railways
Wolsztyn, Poland
The small, picturesque town of Wolsztyn
(formerly Wollstein in the Prussian province of Ostbrandenburg) is the
centre of steam rail operations conducted by the PKP, the national rail
system of Poland. Wolsztyn is one of several towns in the area where a
turntable, roundhouse and maintenance facilities are maintained for steam
locomotives. The area around Wolsztyn is, in fact, the last place in
Europe which operates a steam-hauled mainline train service and among the
last in the world. There are, at present, around a dozen steam engines
still running, and because of the fact that some money is made through steam
train driver courses, the steam train service is guaranteed until at least
2007. There are two steam-hauled passenger trains a day to and from Poznan
(the major city in the region - a 50 mile, 15 station stop, two hour
journey west!), plus less frequent railroad services to Leszno and Zbaszynek (Neu
Bentschen). Freight is also transported on the lines around Wolsztyn,
Konotop, Powodowo and Zbaszynek using steam locomotives. Indeed, the steam
trains play an essential role in the area, transporting over 4,000
passengers per day, and about 2,000 tons of freight per week. The depot is
also home to a large number of abandoned and withdrawn engines moved here
from now closed steam locomotive depots all over Poland. Visitors are able
to examine these at close quarters, should one wish to do so.
On the first weekend of May each year
train enthusiasts from across the world descend on Wolsztyn to watch the Steam
Parade, with more than a dozen steam trains from Poland and Germany
in operation around the depot in Wolsztyn, alongwith some rather special
parades of steam locomotives.
Some of the dozen or so types of
steam trains, based at Wolsztyn, include:
- Ol 49 – standard 2-6-2 passenger locomotives
- Pt 47 – 2-8-2 express train locomotives
- Pm 36 – a beautiful 4-6-2 express train locomotive named: "Beautiful Helena"
- Ty 45 – 2-10-0 steam locomotives
If you are interested in an
individual or small group guided tour of the area's many railway based
attractions we can help. Our tour guides are bilingual and highly
knowledgable fans of Polish railways. For true steam buffs, we can even
arrange a seat next to the driver - on the footplate of
one of these huge steam locos, at minimal cost.
Overnight accommodation can even be
arranged at the PKP hostel in Wolsztyn engine shed, should you want to
sleep with the locomotives!
Hear
one of the Ty45 steam locomotives based in Wolsztyn
Poland is also home to one of the
last narrow gauge railways in Europe, with regular passenger services to
and from Smigiel and Welichowo. And there a short 600mm narrow gauge
freight line at Stare Kurowo
(Altkarbe). Extensive information on Polish
narrow gauge railways can be found here.
Ask us a
question about Polish steam railways or get details of your own private
guided tour of Wolsztyn and the railroads of Poland.
Useful Links:
Source: http://krykiet.com/polish_steam.htm
For another great video (but much too short) visit:
http://www.downvids.net/2013-steam-locomotive-parade-at-wolsztyn-in-poland-465646.html
What a fantastic parade, I hae never seen so much steam in one place. And so many whistles! D said you must have been really excited when you saw it.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there was so much steam railroad activity in Poland and some still active. Of course I had to go do some additional research on the narrow guage there.
D was right - and I found it by accident! (can not and will not tell you how many times I watched it)! :o)
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