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Smigiel

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by RalphW, Feb 12, 2012.

  1. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    If you fancy a day playing at driving and firing on a narrow gauge how about this.. OK so no steam operating on this video but it gives you an idea of the line and what it carries. There were 7 round passenger carring trips when I was there, so at the end of the day I was getting quite familiar with the route.

    [youtube]NzmgoWpnBNw[/youtube]
     
    RalphW, Feb 12, 2012
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  2. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    A lovely line, but I believe it has now closed thanks to local council indifference at best and outright hostility at worst. A great shame because back in October 2007 it had regular genuine freight, several passenger trains between Stare Bojanowo and Smigiel, and one or two working beyond Smigiel to Wielochowo. A thoroughly charming little byway.
     
    nanstallon, Feb 13, 2012
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  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I believe that there had been an offer from some wealthy person, could have been American, to put a reasonable quantity of money into keeping the line working, but the local council were not prepared to believe that this was purely from a philanthropic point, and thought that this person had some ulterior motive. Since they could not work out this 'ulterior motive' his offer was turned down...:eek:hwell:
     
    RalphW, Feb 13, 2012
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  4. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    This sounds a pretty miserable attitude on the part of the local bigwigs. I'm sure that the line, when working, brought a lot of tourists to an otherwise unremarkable country town.
     
    nanstallon, Feb 13, 2012
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  5. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Sadly the poles even have a term for this mentality... It's called "Polish Reality".
     
    ADB968008, Feb 13, 2012
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  6. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    I understand that the line's two diesel locos have been carted off on a low-loader in the dead of night - doesn't look too good.
     
    nanstallon, Feb 17, 2012
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  7. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    It's a shame that the line has all but closed now. I drove one the railcars along it back in August 2010 and even then vegetation had rapidly taken over several parts towards Stare Bojanowo. Lovely little line and very photogenic in the right weather!
     
    BR 73082, Feb 20, 2012
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  8. Talyllyn07

    Talyllyn07 Member

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    there are however still two NG lines in poland operating, well the Wolsztyn website shows that punters can book a day on the narrow gauge...

    cheers

    AT
     
    Talyllyn07, Feb 21, 2012
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