Latest from Wolstyn?

What sad news.

Howard made it possible that I had three wonderful weeks in Poland at the turn of the century. I have posted photographs of that (4 visits in total) here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73536293@N02/albums

I was looking for pictures of Howard in those collections, but found hardly any. I guess he was very discreet, and we were often out at 4am in the morning, fed ourselves alone etc.

Here is one I could find:


I have such happy memories of it all.
Sitting outside the 'Howardhouse' with Andrzey and a beer. Eating thick peasoup in the mess room at Poznan Glowny.



The departure from Granowo at dusk, slipping as we rejoined the mainline, told not to touch the regulator, it would work itself out

Lots of stuff like that, all made possible by Howard.
Thank you!

 

Very sad news. I hope that steam at Wolsztyn may continue as his memorial. I have fond memories of my time there.

 

Interesting video from Mr Eden-Green here

 

https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/mobil...dobrej-drodze-do-wznowienia-ruchu-114247.html

Steam services planned to resume on 3rd September, assuming the repairs to Pt47-65 are completed by then.

Ol49-59 won't be back this year, so Wolsztyn are planning to buy an SM42 diesel as back up, the same type as currently being used on service trains.

Ol49-69 currently being stripped for overhaul.

TKi3-87, a Prussian 2-6-0T, is planned to be overhauled for charters. Can't be used on service trains as it's limited to 65 km/h, which need to be operated by 100 km/h locos (or 90 km/h SM42s!) - also the reason the Ty2 from Chabówka can't be hired in.

 

Pt47-65 arrived back at Wolsztyn a couple of days ago and has been out on test today.

 

As of 31 August The Wolsztyn Experience is to close.
https://www.thewolsztynexperience.org/

The line on the Facebook page is “Don’t cry because it’s over - smile because it happened.” I think that sums it up beautifully

 

Sadly I could never afford it , but have many freinds who made the trip and there stories are legend. marvellosu indeed that Howard made this possilbe for so many people

 

I was told not to exceed 10 bar, so I went up to that (same idea as @RalphW ) and they said Whoa, that is a maximum, not an average !!!
Can you pm me the file then? If it's not too big.

 

Steam trains resumed on the 4th September 2023

Don't know how long it will last!

"September 3, 2023
DANGER! From next Monday, September 4th, the Pt47-65 will go to Leszno twice a day, Monday to Friday :

• 77670 / 77535 Wolsztyn 06:07 - Leszno 07:23 / 7:50 - Wolsztyn 09:13,
• 77544 / 77827 Wolsztyn 11:43 - Leszno 12:53 / 13:44 - Wolsztyn 15:07,

and Saturday (from September 9th) on route 357 to Poznan :

• 77213 / 77202 Wolsztyn 12:40 - Poznan 14:43 / 16:24 - Wolsztyn 18:59.

Today new train drivers are doing their test run on the Pt47-65 towards Zbaszynek."

Translated from from German on the Wolsztyn depot website."http://parowozy.com.pl/newsd.htm"

 

A joyous update today is new boilers are being constructed for Ol-49 and Ol69 in Czech- anticipated return to work end of next year(though we all know things can take longer(!) Chassis are under overhaul, tenders are done. News from the centre

 

Well the timetable this year is meant to be one trip to Zbaszynek on weekday afternoons and one trip to Poznan very early Saturday morning, that's it. However, Pt47-65 has been out for repairs for a while, and even though steam was meant to restart on Saturday it hasn't happened. According to Parowozownia Wolsztyn on Facebook, there'll be no scheduled steam services for the next couple of months. There will however be railtours.

 

The brand new boiler of OL49-59 passed its steam test today. Just a fantastic effort

 

Good news indeed.

Does this mean there is a competent and viable alternative to Meinegen now, given the problems that have dogged the A1 Trust over the last few years?

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ac49GxDgA/

Photos from Facebook of the new boiler being hydraulically tested.

 

More good news.