Locomotive miracle in provincial Poland

• locomotive miracle in provincial Poland

Europe is rich in its historic railroads and an open-air museum where tourists ride on the historic rolling stock. Especially well-preserved and the most common places like the UK and Germany, where enthusiasts, community transport fans or just commercial organizations engaged in repair and maintenance of old locomotives and wagons in order to recreate a bygone era. A very popular and fashionable fun. In the UK alone these retro-more than a hundred museums. However, a unique mansion in this series is Poland, and more specifically the provincial town of Wolsztyn, 80 kilometers from Poznan. There is more to keep the action only in Europe locomotive depot, serving the regular local trains as well as tourist and commissioned.

It is not even a museum of steam locomotives, but still exhibits here are also present in large numbers, it is absolutely authentic and present locomotive depot. Until recently, there were 3 pairs of local trains. How do things stand now, 100% I can not say with certainty, but after calling here before a visit to the eerie mixture of Russian, English and Polish figured out (with an employee of words) that a regular train locomotive runs every day. Though the schedule Polskikh w / d indicates that transportation of a railcar performed. Namely, in the day of my visit (Saturday) just rather successfully started up retro tourist train. Well, nothing to complain about for the locomotive depot in Wolsztyn was one of the most important points in a short visit to Poland. We take a walk and look at it in more detail.

Well, the station Wolsztyn (Wolsztyn), a true Polish hinterland. Decent gridiron for wilderness and three pairs of local trains on weekdays. But there is a miracle preserved locomotive depot, the station is quite alive and functioning. Just met on the platform of Pan with a camera, he confirmed - will train. Ok, there are as much as 40 minutes, while you can leisurely stroll down to the depot tracks.

Nearby settled on eternal parking two rare. Both engine polish, the first one Pt-47 (1949), the second Ol-49 (1953). Bukovki capital P and O mean in the Polish classification of "fast" and "passenger". The second letter describes the amount and purpose of wheelsets, and they have the engine, as you can see, there may be many. But such details vdavatsya we will not be nor what it is.

Before depot 150-200 meters. Already seen and even heard pyhtevshy locomotive.

A few locomotives directly opposite.

One of the most modern exhibits here, Ty-51 (1957) T - "cargo".

And here is our hero today, recovered from oblivion, refurbished and straight from the tin, Ol-49, and is almost ready for flight.

This handsome. Of course, this is not a powerful locomotive highways, and is intended for short distances, however it is beautiful and harmonious.

Last preparations before departure, inspect, inspected coupling and braking systems.

In good puffing and puffing steam locomotive, tender forward with compacted cars into the station. This is my first real encounter with "live" locomotives, very unique place here. And you can safely walk, look and touch, no one rides.

Walk in the depot. This Ty-1, built in 1919.

hydraulic column for filling locomotives with water and Trolley with coal. Item of equipment in general.

Locomotive circle and shed their control.

repair and maintenance shop was built in 1907 and seats up to 8 parking spaces still there inside they are all busy. In total there are about 25 locomotives on my approximate calculations, and, acting explicitly 5-6, 1-2, and more, may be restored. By the way, here it goes even a parade of steam engines in the spring. Involvement of the local machine and honorable guests from the neighboring countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The event was powerful in his old transport charisma, popular and well-known in the region and among transport fans.

Some of the turntable is located as a monument Ok-1 (1922)

In the administration building there was a plan diagram of the area where noted all the important main depot facilities: Fan building workshops, coal storage, turntable, gidrokolonka, locate the manual trolley, pit and so on. Local visitors can easily come and get acquainted with the depot device.

And now I go directly to the shop, after asking permission from the person of the office building. I go into the shade, gently open the door with a crowbar podportuyu. Yes, for a modernized locomotive depot is unlikely to be missed, and here please - go yourself quietly and enjoy the communion of the kingdom of steam engines.

I suppose some of the locomotives is located on the restoration. Perhaps some of the other places. Depot in Wolsztyn just engaged in repair and restoration of order.

However, the mistake came. The depot shop is now 7 locomotives, one entry is free.

No one is Saturday, though. Just me and the old machines.

Tr-5, German locomotive in 1922, recently restored.

Oak 22, 1929 Polish locomotive construction. And the only preserved in working order of 190 built.

Model Series Ok-1 (1917), also known as P-8 in the classification of the Prussian railways, production started in 1908 and lasted until 1928

A very authentic place.

It's time to head back toward the station, not to miss the departure. The building on the left before there is dayroom locomotive crews, and now there is a small museum on the history of the depot and the hotel where you can spend the night for a very modest amount of PLN 50 (EUR 12).

In contrast depot tower.

Let us look again at this beautiful, shrouded locomotive romance, place and briskly right at the station. We are waiting for sending e train!

The locomotive at the platform with passenger retro cars noisy sighs fallow. Beauty!

Passengers were few, but a large part will sit down on, in Poznan.

And if you do not want to ride in the car, it is possible to separate the amount of 150 zlotys a ride directly to the booth of the engine, leave the piece of coal into the furnace, if I may.