Wolsztyn - last hurdle overcome?
Poland’s outpost of working steam could resume regular operations in March.
supporters of Wolsztyn’s shed were celebrating in february, after it appeared the final obstacles to restarting regular trains had been overcome. The world’s last regular main line steam passenger services are expected to run again from March 13 - almost exactly three years after they ceased at the end of March 2014. Regular trains are to run six days a week. “I think this is the last hurdle - we’ve got the train times,” Trevor Jones from The Wolsztyn Exerience told Steam Railway on February 10. “It’s great news after all the efforts of the last three years.” Under the new timetable, steam is to run twice on Mondays-Fridays from Wolsztyn to Leszno and return (29 miles each way); on Saturday there will be two return trips to Poznan (50½ miles each way). However, a proposal to include Zbaszynek in the timetable has been dropped. A late remaining issue had been a shortage of rolling stock owned by the cultural institution that has now taken over the running of Wolsztyn shed from Poland’s state railway PKP. This is initially to be covered by hiring coaches from elsewhere while alternatives are sourced; former Czech DMU trailers were to arrive in February, but these have yet to be certified for Polish operation. Wolsztyn starts its new era with a pair of operational locomotives, 2-8-2 No. Pt47.65 and 2-6-2 No. Ol49.59; a second 2-6-2 (No. Ol49.69) needs replacement wheelsets, but is expected to return to steam this year. Mr Jones expressed a hope that the return of regular trains could be followed by a deal in which unique ‘Pacific’ No. Pm36.2 ‘Piekna Helena’ (‘Beautiful Helena’) is returned to operational condition. In the care of the Warsaw transport museum but based at Wolsztyn, the 4-6-2 is currently out of traffic. Mr Jones proposes that the “Polish flagship engine” become part of the cultural institution’s fleet. Wolsztyn’s annual steam parade is to be held this year on April 29.