EXTRA MILES AT WOLSZTYN AS STEAM OUSTS DIESEL

Steam services are putting in extra mileage in Poland in order to cover for unavailable railcars. Wolsztyn shed now has a single engine in action Mondays-Fridays, which normally hauls two return trips to Leszno. However, in February, 2-8-2 Pt47-65 was repeatedly called on for a third run, in the afternoon. It meant steam-hauled passenger trains were timetabled to leave Wolsztyn at 6.17am, 11.27am and 3pm. After appearing on individual days earlier in the month, the ‘Mikado’ ran the extra services in the week of February 12, and was expected to do the same during the following week until Thursday February 22. By that point, the ‘Pt47’ was due to have run around 3,500 miles since taking over the steam diagram from 2-6-2 Ol49.69 on January 24. Weekend services to Poznan have not yet restarted. Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST Works No. 1827 is expected to run at Wolsztyn this summer (SR475). The 1879-built Gorton Foundry works shunter is to make the trip from the Foxfield Railway as part of a ‘World Steam Extravaganza’ – also intended to include parallel running on the Warsaw main line, double and triple departures from Wolsztyn, and a photographic freight. For details, see SR475, call 01733 395155 or email jane. skinner@bauermedia.co.uk