Wolsztyn 2015 - The Final Parade?

I attended the Parade on 2 May, in the knowledge that it would be a pale shadow of previous events, as Wolsztyn had only Ol49 69 (2-6-2) serviceable, but there would be Okz32 2 (2-10-2T), Tkh49 1 (0-6-0T - fictitious number) and Tkt48 18 (2-8-2T) from Chabowka, the latter bringing a special from Posnan with the intention of being in time to participate in the 4-loco parade. DR 23 1019 was due to visit from Berlin, but this was cancelled at the last minute.


Tkt48 18 arrived 4 hours late, missing the parade, as at its planned water stop there was only a garden hose available!


Fortunately, some specials were run on the preceding day and the day of the parade, so all was not lost!

The End?


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Thanks for sharing these photos. The scene at Wolsztyn station shows plenty of public interest. Sadly, the steam operation at Wolsztyn has dwindled over the years, but perhaps due to political machinations and the Polish rail privatisation that is under way and seems every bit as disastrous as the British 'poll tax on wheels'. I believe that the new mayor of the town is pro- steam, so there may be hope yet.

John

 

The situation may yet be rescued; the steam operations must have brought a lot of tourists to what is otherwise a rather ordinary town, and I don't see the Wolsztyn Experience people giving up easily.

John

 

There are some regular workings this year, though not daily, plus several railtours.

http://www.parowozy.com.pl/marzec2015/woltur.jpg

http://turkol.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=3

There's still only one working steam loco (Ol49-69). Ol49-59 is undergoing overhaul, and Pt47-65 is still in pieces at Chabowka.

 

...And if postings on the Parowozownia Wolsztyn Facebook group are correct, then they're down to none now -Ol49-69 has failed at Zbąszynek with a burst tube in the firebox. Looks like the boiler has 3, small tubes in the firebox, similar to Bulleid's thermic syphons, and one of them has failed. Next booked working is two trips on Thursday to Zbąszynek and back.