By narrow gauge railway into 21st century - tts

Marek Malczewski
By narrow gauge railway
into 21st century
The 21st century began unfavorably for Polish narrow
gauge railways, on 9th July 2001 Polish State Railways
finished servicing passenger traffic on its narrow gauge
lines. In 2001 a management of local trains came into
existence and from got Polish State Railways wide prerogatives which allowed transferring the wealth of narrow-gauge railways to self-government bodies on communications goals and in addition self-government didn’t
have to be situated on the land where a given fragment of
the railway line was. A rolling stock, necessary objects
and the ground (temporarily in leasing form – up to the
moment when a legal unpaid handing over is formally
regulated). Notations of the agreement of lending rolling
stock oblige self-government bodies to exploit in order to
provide the transportation service, and in case of abandoning using of these means of transport, it should to be
returned to the PKP.
In the final period of existing narrow gauge railways PKP an eco­
nomic meaning of its being were taking from transport of goods
– goods were transported in wagons with normal gauge loaded
on narrow gauge transporters. Passenger transport had symbolic
meaning, however on wisely managed railways tourist transport
were growing (payment according to higher rates than defined in
TOB for the passenger traffic).
The history of narrow gauge railway
During narrow gauge railways’ prosperity Poland didn’t exist as
an independent country, its territory was divided among three oc­
cupants: Prussia, Russia and Austro-Hungarian. Each of occu­
pants was conducting its own rail transport policy and this sepa­
rateness still seen on Poland’s rail map. The most friendly
Średzka Railways were one from last which operated regular traffic (by the end of
1990s) with trains with steam traction – Px48 locomotives. This photograph was
taken on 26 July 2008 on Środa station
14
9/2008
conditions for railway development were in the territory of Prus­
sia’s annexation, where the rail network has the highest density,
for both narrow and normal gauge railways. Prussia’s legislation
favored building railway lines. No wonder that on Prussia’s terri­
tory many local railways emerged.
However on the territory of Austria’s annexation conditions
for railways’ development weren’t worse, but taking into account
worse economic situation and smaller territory only one railway
arose, which belonged to joint stock company.
The most difficult conditions for building railway were in
Russia’s annexation territory, where defense doctrine (19th cen­
tury) assumed existing “buffer territory” separating centre of Rus­
sia from west neighbors.
Prohibition of building any connections which could ease in­
vade potential aggressors was strictly obeyed. That is why agree­
ing for building Piotrków – Sulejów Railway was an exception –
it was the only narrow gauge railway for public use which came
into existence on Polish lands under Russia occupancy. The
turning point was during the 1st World War, when the fighting ar­
mies rebuilt several railways, a part from was kept and made
available for public use. In the interwar period these railways
were operated and modernised by Polish State Railways (600 mm
gauge and characteristic Heeresfeldbahnen rolling stock were
kept).
As a result of the 1st World War also Kujawy railway came
into existence, which was the result of connecting former Rus­
sia’s sugar factory railway (Gosławice, Brześć Kujawski, Dobre
Aleksandrowskie, Ostrowy i Leśmierz) with Prussia’s industry
railway (also with railways which belonged to sugar factory Krusz­
wica and Mątwy). After the 2nd World War two self government
railways – Gnieźnieńska and Wrzesińska were included into Ku­
jawy railways network.
In 1945 Polish State Railways took over operating narrow
gauge railway in Pomerania and Lower Silesia and the rest of Up­
per Silesia railways.
In the end of 1940s self government bodies’ railways (former
Prussia’s area) were included into PKP’s structure. Moreover self
government bodies – its previous owners – were deprived not
only of wealth but also of any influence on railways.
The only railways built after the 2nd World War were Nasielska
and Starachowicka railway. The latter one based on forest rail­
way’ track which was servicing metallurgical works in Stara­
chowice.
Kujawy and Pomeranian railways (their narrow gauge net­
works had above 500 km length) had their own separate manage­
ments. In 1990s they were divided into smaller government bod­
ies: Gnieźnieńska, Somopolińska and Krośniewicka railways
(from Kujawy railways) and Gryficka, Koszalińskie and Stargardz­
ka railways (from Pomeranian railways).
Since the beginning of 1950s PKP owned every railways of
public use.
Tabela 1
List of narrow gauge railways in Poland
Lp. Name of railway
Kind of traffic
1 Ełcka
seasonal tourist
2 Gnieźnieńska
seasonal tourist and freight
3 Górnośląskie narrow gauge railways
seasonal tourist
4 GKW / Rudy Raciborskie
seasonal tourist
5 Gryficka
seasonal tourist
6 Hrubieszowska
closed
7 Kaliska
freight
8 Koszalińska
seasonal tourist
9 Krośniewicka
temporary closed
10 [Krotoszyńska] Pleszewska
regular passenger
11 Mławska
temporary closed
12 Nałęczowska
seasonal tourist
8
5
22
Suwałki
28
1
Olsztyn
Szczecin
26
Gorzów Wlkp.
Białystok
Bydgoszcz
Toruń
27 20
2
14
Poznań
23
24
Zielona Góra
Konin
10
7
Kalisz
11
Ciechanów
Jelenia Góra
closed
14 Opalenicka
closed
15 Piaseczyńska
seasonal tourist
785 mm
16 Piotrkowska
closed
1000 mm
17 Przeworska
seasonal tourist and freight
Railways in operations
18 Rogowska
seasonal tourist
Tourist railway
[Sochaczewska] 19
Museum of Narrow Gauge Railways
seasonal tourist
20 Sompolińska
closed
21 Starachowicka
seasonal tourist
22 Stargardzka
closed
23 Śmigielska
regular passenger
24 Średzka
seasonal tourist
25 Świętokrzyska [fragment d. Jędrzejowskiej]
seasonal tourist
26 Wyrzyska [fragment d. Bydgoskiej]
seasonal tourist
27 Żnińska
tourist
28 Żuławska [fragment d. Gdańskiej]
seasonal tourist
Wrocław
600 mm
750 mm
13
9
19
Warszawa
16
Częstochowa
Opole
15
18
Łódź
Legnica
13 Nasielska
Under PKP management
PKP its management begun from intensive standardisation. At
first part of lines which were recognized as non – standard were
perforated to 750 mm gauge (600 mm – Mławska and Ostrołęcka
railway and 1000 mm – Śmigielska, Średzka and Ełcka railway).
New 600 mm and 1000 mm rolling stock wasn’t ordered, and
remaining rolling stock was exploited.
Meaningful orders for 750 mm rolling stock were in 1950s.
Against order of PKP 93 steam engine locomotives Px48
(P = 200 KM) and 4-axle freight wagons were produced. 200
coaches 1Aw type and 75 coaches 3Aw type were ordered
by PKP for passenger service. However in the end of 1950s nar­
row gauge railways started to be obsolete and non-economic
mean of transport. Several researches were conducted to prove
this thesis and progressive liquidation scenarios were prepared.
Fortunately in the end of 1960 transporters which could carry
normal gauge wagons were introduced (simultaneously elimi­
nating labour-intensive, onerous and generating losses hand re­
loading). Then PKP ordered from Romania modern diesel loco­
motives type L30H (300 KM, 22 for 600 mm and 3 for 750 mm)
and L45H (450 KM, 164 for 750, 785 and 1000 mm) which
slowly displaced old locomotives.
National economy crisis in 1980s put off planned liquidation
of narrow gauge railways.
In 1986 32 rail buses type MBxd2 and 100 passenger wag­
ons type Bxhpi were bought, what helped to operate narrow
gauge railways till the end of 20th century.
Gdańsk
Koszalin
Radom
Kielce
12
21
Lublin
25
3
4
Rzeszów
Katowice
Kraków
6
Zamość
Tarnów
17
Railways closed and disassembled
Sochaczew [19] is a branch of Warsaw Museum of Railways.
Is is added to table from historical reason as a former Sochaczew KD.
The location of narrow gauge railway
From 340 km network of Jędrzejowska Railways only 10% of it remained till today.
Railways are operate tourist traffic through beautiful Ponidzie lands
After 10 years breake Polish Fundation of Narrow Gauge Railways brought back
trains on Starachowicka Railways. Locomotive Lyd1-252 leads Romanian wagon
Bxhpi (A208P type)
9/2008
15
New menagers
Only two railways: Żnińska and Gryficka were seized by self-gov­
ernment bodies with opened hands. They railways had consoli­
dated, strong position as a local tourist attraction. Particularly
authorities of Żnina from 1990s were intensively trying to exclude
“its” railways from PKP’s structures in order to return to the tra­
dition of County Railways.
Other railways were less lucky. In general self-government
bodies treated narrow gauge railways very distrustfully, being
afraid that railways would be additional ballast for their tight
budgets. A very big and positive role in the process of transfer­
Gnieźnieńska Railways operates small freight traffic and developing touristic traffic
Locomotive Lxd2-328 photographed in Zbiersk with transporters train to Opatówek
On the Polish narrow-gauge map Pleszewska Local railway (former Krotoszyń­
ska) is undoubted curiosity
16
9/2008
ring railways enacted Association of Local Railway Service from
Kalisz. Its activists, together with leaders of Kaliska and Śmigielska
railway prepared general principles of operation of self-govern­
ment railways on self-financing principle.
According to this project the wealth from the Polish State
Railways is taking over by local self-government body, and SKPL
is a railway operator. Costs of railways functioning are being cov­
ered by raised profits from transport and the leasing objects or
land, however planned passenger traffic (according to obliging
legislation) should be funded partially by the competent Mar­
shal’s Office.
Nowadays in SKPL Kaliska, Śmigielska, Pleszewska, Prze­
worska and Nałęczowska railways are acting. For 7 years (till
March 2008) SKPL was also an operator on the Krośniewickie
Raliways, however the attempt of introducing Mława railways fail­
ured. Narrow gauge stations of railways managed by SKPL are
assigned to WOT (List of Rate Distances), what allows to send
goods using only one bill of consignment from any place in
Europe.
Moreover it is worth to recall interregional Polish Foundation
of narrow gauge railways which is operator of rogowskie railways,
systematically converting it into first-class museum railways.
FPKW launched (after 10 years break at functioning) tourist trains
traffic on the Starachowice railway and it is to aspiring to recon­
struct of Leśna railways (600 mm) in Pionki in Puszcza Kozie­
nicka.
Local, designated by self-government authorities organisa­
tions are operating remaining trains.
Legal articles which leveled local narrow-gauge railways and
their operators with tycoons (often supranational) operating on
normal gauge were essential obstruction in the beginning of op­
erating isolated from PKP Narrow gauge. Operators had to gain
service licenses (individually passenger and individually freight)
meeting formal criteria and incurring payments such alone as
“great” acting in the area of united Europe. Rolling stock and
track requirements (homologation, certificates) are very exces­
sive.
For more information about Polish narrow gauge railways
see article “Wąskim torem w XXI wiek”
9/2008. This article can be download
www.infotransport.pl/tts tts no. 9/2008
Goliat and David – two oldtimers: normal gauge locomotive ST43-68 and nar­
row gauge locomotive Lyd1-252 (produced in 1960–1969). This photograph
was taken on Starachowice Wsch. Station in august 2008