Wolsztyn Parade 2011 - the last PKP one ?

This is the time of the year I start thinking about kielbasa and piwo outside the pub at Wolsztyn....

Wolsztyn's annual PKP sponsored parade is on Saturday April 30th as usual around 14-15 locomotives in steam from 5 countries.
Apparently Wolsztyn is moving into private hands and PKP are divesting of their asset, at which point "historic" state owned steam effectivly ends and the era of privately owned mainline steam begins. This is Wolsztyn's Carnforth 1968 moment..so things are going to change, whether a privately run musuem will fund what is effectively a state run free to visit international PR Stunt remains to be seen, so this could be the last parowozow, though maybe the operational fleet may start to recieve a bit more tlc and future events may be more "domestic preservation spirited" and less international and local workhorses - who knows?

Asking around...

Expected to be operating is pt47-65, ol49-7 and newly overhauled ol49-59 (boiler certified 1st March). pm36-2 is now a more accurate olive green.

From Chabowka three locomotives are expected including the Ty2 -953 (Br 52 2-10-0) and ol12-7 possible Okz32-2 also fresh from overhaul, boiler is in frames and soon ready for testing.

From Berlin a BR 52 2-10-0 is booked on the regular Berlin railtour (though some websites suggest two of the operational BMD's BR 52's are double heading, BMD's website since changed it to 1.. but changed which one at least twice now).

From Cottbus is 01.0509 double heading with BR35 35.1019

From Wroclaw it is expected the tkt tank will do it's mainline "fast" sprint railtour

From Budapest is a tour with MAV 109.109 4-6-0 or possibly a 4-8-0 424 class arriving on friday evening via Katowice and Wroclaw, last year MAV 242-001 worked singularly, on a special from Wolsztyn, unlike previous years where the MAV locomotive was piloted, but assisting, in Slovakia / Poland and only used Light Engine within station limits.

Also coming is two CSD steam locomotives from Rakovnika and Bratislava via LE / towed in steam and worked LE within Station limits.

From March 15th 2011 Poznan steam hauled services take a break, with a new service from Wolsztyn to Leszno and Zbasnyek starting. The new daily schedule is below:

Wolsztyn 6:28
Leszno 7:39

Leszno 9:25
Wolsztyn 10:36
Zbąszynek 11:14

Zbąszynek 11:50
Wolsztyn 12:35

Wolsztyn 13:30
Leszno 14:35

Leszno 15:45
Wolsztyn 16:50

During Wolsztyn week their regular schedule sometimes gets disrupted, but this year more so with the Poznan line engineering work.. it's most likely the schedule Poznan - Wolsztyn turn on April 30th will go via Leszno, and the passenger turns between Leszno - Zbąszynek may be diesel, as the drivers usually do some "freebie" trips with the Chabowka locomotives from Wolsztyn, and other drivers run out of working hours with extra moves earlier in the week... it's worth it to check closer to the date.
For those who want to do the steam trip independant of tour operators.... links are below (ive done several times and reccomend them all.. better to go independant than via a specialist UK railtour company, but thats just me).

From Budapest:
http://www.mavnosztalgia.hu/en/menu/77/esemeny/429

From Cottbus: (Click a coach and go from there)
https://shop.tixoo.com/frameset.asp...ture=95ffe262ea65ba3e7a6c7a79ffca06c64f2804d5

From Berlin:
http://berlin-macht-dampf.com/fahrt...02052009-wolsztyn-dampflokparade-bei-der-pkp/


Lucky for me.. I will be there, either from Wroclaw on saturday, or chasing the MAV trip from Katowice on friday

 

Wolsztyn 2011 Parade timetable is below:


dep 7:45 77201 Wolsztyn - Stefanowo : Ol12-7
arr 8:49 77202 Stefanowa - Wolsztyn : Ol12-7
dep 09:20 77204 Wolsztyn - Nowawieś Mochy : Ol12-7
arr 10:12 77207 Nowawieś Mochy - Wolsztyn : Ol12-7
arr 10:36 Berlin - Wolsztyn 52 8177 and/or 52 8079 + 10
arr 11:26 77500/1 "Cegielski" Poznań dep 8.55 - Leszno ( dep 10.29) - Wolsztyn Pm36-2 + 9
arr 11:40 Cottbus - Wolsztyn 18 201 + 35 1019 + 11
arr 12:02 67201 Wrocław ST44 (M62 diesel) to Leszno then + Ol49-59, 9 wagon (tickets 73zl from window 15 at Wroclaw station)
13:00 - 13:30 Parade
dep 16:05 77213 Wolsztyn - Rakoniewice arrive 16.19, Czech locomotive: 477.043
dep 17:00 Wolsztyn - Frankfurt - Berlin Schoeneweide 52 8177 or 52 8079 + 10
dep 17:10 76200 Hefajstos to Wrocław ST44 (M62 diesel)
arr 17:12 77214 from Rakoniewic ( dep 16.55) CSD Czech 477.043
dep 17:53 76502/3 Wolsztyn - Leszno - Poznań Pt47-65
dep 18:00 Wolsztyn - Cottbus 18 201 + 35 1019 + 11

Locomotives booked to attend:
PKP: pt47-64, ol49-59, pm36-2, ty2-953, ol12-7, ST44
CSD: 477.043
DB: 01-0509*, 35 1019, 52 8177 / 52 8079
MAV: 109-109

Notes

* 109-109's trip from Budapest is subject to bookings covering costs
* ST44 is a russian M62 diesel
* 01-0509 has failed with boiler issues, 18 201 will substitute if 01-0509 not ready.
* ol49-7's recent failure means it will be withdrawn from the schedule.

 

The good news is lots of rain in Poland today...

After several sunny days, a few nails could be bitten to see if Germany imposed a steam ban (which would prevent all from Germany except 18 201 from coming).

fyi, if anyone is traveling in, remember the Poznan - Wolsztyn line is closed this weekend.. so traveling to Wolsztyn is not that easy.. you need to change at Zbaszyn or Leszno and allow an extra hour. pm36-2 is departing Poznan at 08.55 and going via Leszno, train number 77500 & 77501 (return is 77502 / 77503), standard fares apply and can be booked in advance.

There is also a steam working on Friday night to Wolsztyn.

Due to the lack of locally operational locomotives (i.e. ol49-59 and pm36-2 being the only 2 still working after the parade, ol49-7 failed and pt47-65 ticket expires), Chabowka's ty2 2-10-0 may be staying a little longer, at least until ol49-7 repaired, so chance to see a more "true to Wolsztyn" operation with a 2-10-0 on double deck coaches... This may alarm some as the Ty2 is preserved and in tip top condition, unlike the rugged like operation of Wolsztyn's less manicured fleet, two ol49's are undergoing repair, probably ol49-23 and ol49-69, but still a historic typical Polish scene

 

looks like ol49-7 will make the parade after all.
The czech 477's mainline passenger run has been replaced by pm36-2, sadly.
On the upside however, those coming from Wroclaw will get the Ty2 treatment instead of the ol49 - wow and the Russian M62 diesel in tow.

revised Wolsztyn 2011 Parade timetable is below:


dep 7:45 77201 Wolsztyn - Stefanowo : Ol12-7
arr 8:49 77202 Stefanowo - Wolsztyn : Ol12-7
dep c09:00 ty2 953 Light Engine to Leszno (latest time, may leave earlier if ready)
dep 09:20 77204 Wolsztyn - Nowawieś Mochy : Ol12-7
arr 10:12 77207 Nowawieś Mochy - Wolsztyn : Ol12-7
arr 10:36 Berlin - Wolsztyn 52 8177 + 52 8079 + 10
arr 11:26 77500/1 "Cegielski" Poznań dep 8.55 - Leszno ( dep 10.29) - Wolsztyn Pm36-2 + 9 - tickets regular pkp fare.
arr 11:40 Cottbus - Wolsztyn 18 201 + 35 1019 + 11
arr 12:02 67201 Wrocław ST44 (M62 diesel) to Leszno then + ty2 953, 9 wagon (tickets 73zl from window 15 at Wroclaw station)
13:00 - 13:30 Parade
13:30 - 15:00 18 201 LE (minus 2nd tender) to Leszno for turning, and LE return (18 201 is too large for Wolsztyn turntable), 2nd tender will be turned at Wolsztyn with diesel
dep 16:05 77213 Wolsztyn - Rakoniewice arrive 16.19, pm36-2
dep 17:00 Wolsztyn - Frankfurt - Berlin Schoeneweide 52 8177 + 52 8079 + 10
dep 17:10 76200 Hefajstos to Wrocław ST44 (M62 diesel)
arr 17:12 77214 from Rakoniewic ( dep 16.55) pm36-2
dep 17:53 76502/3 Wolsztyn - Leszno - Poznań Pt47-65 - tickets regular pkp fare.
dep 18:00 Wolsztyn - Cottbus 18 201 + 35 1019 + 11

Locomotives booked to attend:
PKP: pt47-65, ol49-59, ol49-7, pm36-2, ty2-953, ol12-7, ST44
CSD: 477.043
DB: 18 201+ 35 1019, 52 8177 + 52 8079

 

If anyone from here is going, dont forget.. it's a busstitution between Poznan and Steszew.. whether pkp gets a usual bus for 30 passengers, or if they have planned ahead and organized a fleet of buses for this particular weekends service remains to be seen.
safest bet is via Leszno or Zbaszyn (or train 77500 / 77502 with the pm36-2 and pt47-65 (or maybe an ol49)), 1st class costs 6.20 gbp (28zl) , 2nd class costs 4.75 gbp (21zl) for 80 odd Miles of mainline steam, (regular pkp fare, tickets from the booking office).. train is listed in the pkp and db timetable websites as a regular service train.

 

Update from wolsztyn, chabowka engine ty2 and ol12 have arrived under their own steam, as has the csd tank.
Whilst being shunted yesterday pt47-112 derailed at the zbasnyek end of the station, all wheels of the tender on the points blocking the main service platforms.
I have to say every year I've been, something drops off the track, usually around the turntable, however no drama, they just go off and get the lifting jacks and get on with it, though admittedly this one needed the crane.

 

Exhausting day, plan came off the rails quite a bit,

Germany declared fire risk, thus the two br52's were replaced by a pkp sulzer 060da.
18201 failed (it was exempt from the ban being oil fired), this took out the br35 also.
Immediately wolsztyn lost 4 locos from the parade.

Pt47-65 is not well and was substituted by ol49-59, on the 9 coach Poznan service, I suspect a tad overloaded this steadily lost time.
Pm36-2 had some drama at leszno, and as a result was over 80 mins late with the inbound posnan, and tender first.
This delayed ty2-911's Wroclaw train , arrobing at 1pm exactly, and this delayed the start of the parade.

Only 7 engines in The parade, I think the smallest ever.
Ol49-7 looks a tad unhealthy also, leaking pints of water from the firebox continously during the day

All in all an interesting day despite the setbacks, but mustn't complain after all it is free

 

Thanks for the gen. Was unable to make it this year - hope it wasn't the last!
Trust that you had a pivo for me!

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Why I like trains:

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I most certainly did.
The weather was great.

The ride back with ol49-59 was very good, though you could tell it was an engine working to it's limit, it steadily lost time throughout the journey to Poznan, I dont think it got past 60mph on the mainline, and took a long time to accelerate and slowed to an amble on the hill upto Leszno. It's a great restored locomotive though (compared to ol49-7 it's chalk and cheese).

However unfortunately it failed today on the regular service train..

That takes the fleet down to 1 locomotive pm36-2 unless it's a simple repair... or if they go with ol49-7 and it's very visibly leaky boiler/firebox... the Chabowka 2 and CSD locomotive left today, so I guess Chabowka safely defended it's engines.
There's a couple of other tours advertised... Pirate to Kolozbreg and another to Gdasnk in May.

More interesting is a railtour from Nowy Sacz to Chabowka (along the entire closed line).

Chabowka is having it's parade on 3rd or 10th September.. it's a parade of trains, rather than locomotives and tends to have a much smaller crowd.

Got a busy few days, but hopefully will post a few pictures in the next few days.