Chabowka

Good evening wise sages of the internet.

Trawling through an old magazine i found an article about a museum and embroyinic passenger service at Chabowka in Southern Poland.

Googling their website and various images, it looks an interesting place. They also appear to run regular steam trips on some scenic and steep bits of line.

They have a 'Steam Gala' listed for 17 and 18th Aug but no further details.

So -

* Has anyone on here ever been?
* Is it worth a schlep from Worcestershire?
* How can I get there from Krakow?
* Are they likely to publish any details about the planned 'gala'?
* Any idea what the museum has in terms of operational locos?


I have been to the Harz and Wolsztyn and loved both. I would welcome any help or suggestions.

Regards

KH

 

Haven't been there since 2006, but, from memory, there was an interesting selection of exhibits on display. Was staying in Krakow at the time and travelled there on one of the services from Krakow to Zakopane.
Hopefully someone will be able to give a more recent update on the place!

 

I'm confused!!! The Chabowka website https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/ says there is a steam gala on "20/21.7.19" but further on "20 and 21 June". The site does, however list the dates and times of the mainline runs under "steam trips" https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-trips/ Can anyone confirm which of the 3 dates for the Gala is the correct one as I'd be interested in going not having been to Poland since 1994.
Ray.

 

Indeed.

I fear the Aug dates might be a mistake. Using the magic of google I translated the Polish website last night - which suggests it is just a running day. Although I am still tempted to do that.

Are there any other museums or lines in Southern Poland that are worth visiting?

 

Bieszczadka Forest railway on south border

 

Good evening,

20 and 201 of JULY 2019 is date of Steam Gala. Sorry for inconvenience. Mistake was already corrected on website:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-gala-2019/

On weekends from 29 of June to 25. August 2019r steam trains go from Chabówka to Kasina Wielka. Timetables can be found here:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-trips/

In next few days I will publish full events calendar in English. Now calendar is available only in Polish language:
https://www.parowozy.pl/kalendarz/

Regards,
Miłosz Mazurek

 

Thank you Milosz for your reply.

On the English website the date 17 - 18th August has a steam gala listed. You may want to correct this.

I cannot make the gala in July as it is vwry close to my wedding - but I will pencil you in for 2020!

What locos do you currently have in use?

Many thanks for your reply and I wish you all the best.

K

 

Dear KHARDS,

Where did you found 17 - 18th August for steam gala?

On https://www.parowozy.pl you can find two types of events.

First is Steam Gala (Polish "Parowozjada"). It's organized once per year. Program of Steam Gala is similar to Wolsztyn's Steam Parade. Program include parade of steam locomotives , parade of historic trains (vintage locomotives+vintage carriages), steam crew competition etc. More than eighth steam locomotives will be presented on this year Steam Gala. This year it will take place on 20/21.07.2019. https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-gala-2019/

Second is "Steam trips" (Polish "Pociągi retro"). This offer is simple trip on board of train headed by steam locomotive. Train go with vintage carriages (from 1930s-1960s) and OKz32-2 (or similar steam locomotive). Train go from Chabówka to Kasina Wielka and back twice per day. This year the trains go: 29, 30. June, 6, 7, 13, 14, 27, 28. July, 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25. August 2019r. https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-trips/

Third option, "Małopolskie Szlaki Turystyki Kolejowej", will be described on website soon.

If you have any further question don't hesitate to ask me.

Regards,
Miłosz Mazurek

 

There is another rail museum at Jaworzyna Slaska (south west of Wroclaw) http://muzeumtechniki.pl/about-us/
Not been there yet, but I did sent them a CD of several of my Polish photos from 1985 after they sent me an e-mail asking if they could have them for their archives! (they found them on Flikr...)

 

I went to Chabówka at the end of August a couple of years ago, with a ride behind OKz32-2 from Chabówka to Kasina Wielka and back - the last one of the year as it happened, and fairly crowded because of that. We were surprised to hear that all the staff are paid (employed by PKP Cargo, the freight operator), the guard we spoke to didn't understand the concept of a volunteer!

The actual museum is open air, and you can freely wander round everything - but there wasn't much in the way of descriptions in English, so take a translator if you don't speak Polish. There wasn't any other facilities either, so take your lunch with you (though there's a little railway-themed Pizzaria on the road between the museum and the PKP station).

It's very easy to get to, all the PKP trains between Kraków and Zakopane stop at Chabówka as they reverse there - the museum is about 5 minutes walk from the station. It's about 2 hours by train from Kraków Główny - quicker by bus, but then you don't get the amazing views of the Skawa valley you see from the train. Alternatively it's an hour from Zakopane, which is also well worth a visit.

In terms of other museums, there's a tramway museum as part of the museum of municipal transport in Kraków, but when I went it was closed for an unrelated exhibition (though the rest of the museum was still interesting, and it gives me a reason to go back next time I'm in Kraków!). There's also a rather less pleasant railway connection at Auschwitz, and I believe the Wieliczka Salt Mine now has an underground mining train as part of it's exhibit - both are obviously not primarily railway related however. I'm told the Kraków aircraft museum is very good too, but I've not managed to get there yet.

I'm a big fan of the area, but then I may be slightly biased, as my wife grew up there...

 

Good evening,

Full events calendar in English is available at https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/events-calendar/

Regards,
Miłosz Mazurek

 

https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/mobil...-wolsztyna-wykolejenie-w-zbaszyniu-92871.html

Bit of an incident on the way back from Chabowka for PT47-65.

 

Oh the joys of fitting wheel skates

 

Good morning,

On weekends from 4. July to 26. July 2020r steam trains go from Chabówka to Maszana Dolna.
On weekends from . August to 23. August 2020r steam trains go from Chabówka to Kasina Wielka. Timetables can be found here:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-trips/

On 5. July., 12. July, 19. July, 26. July, 2. August, 9. August, 16. August, 23 August trains with vintage diesel locomotive go from Nowy Sącz to Chabówka and back.

All events can be found in calendar:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/events-calendar/

Regards,
Miłosz Mazurek

 

Good morning,

Short update:
On weekends from 1. August to 23. August 2020r steam trains go from Chabówka to Mszana Dolna (not Kasina Wielka as mentioned before). Timetables can be found here:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/steam-trips/

On 9. August, 16. August, 23 August trains with vintage diesel locomotive go from Nowy Sącz to Chabówka and back.

All events can be found in calendar:
https://www.parowozy.pl/steamtrains/events-calendar/

Regards,
Miłosz Mazurek