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This section contains details of narrow gauge sites (industrial/commercial, not preserved) still operating, confirmed from recent visits. Also, news regarding closures, etc. Please feel free to contribute to these pages and so help a broad cross section of railways, and countries to be featured. Click on a thumbnail to see the larger picture. The most recent reports will be at the top |
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CROATIA: August 2005
Salt Works, Nin (600mm gauge - assumed) It has been confirmed that the railway serving the salt pans at Nin in Croatia is still operating. There is just one diesel loco which appears to be locally built, and 10 wagons. It is not known if the other surviving salt railway at Ston was loco worked, and if it is still in use. (Posted 26.09.05 Source: Today's Railways) |
AUSTRIA August 2005
Localbahn Mixnitz - St.Erhard (760mm gauge) On the 22 August violent storms in the Mixnitz area washed out 3 sections of track on this line. The line is unlikely to be operating again until at least mid October 2005. The last time this happened was in 1958. |
Zillertalbahn and Pinzgaurbahn
(760mm gauge) Further new narrow gauge locos have been ordered from Gmeinder. D13 and D14 were built in 2004 for the Zillertalbahn, and it has placed an order for two more. The Pinzgaurbahn has also put in an order for one. The new locos will have a top speed of 80km/h. The Pinzgaurbahn is to purchase new coaching stock, and the track is to be upgraded as part of the long term plans for the line. The new locos are set to arrive in 2006. (Posted 26.09.05 Source: Today's Railways) |
GERMANY: July 2005
Ziegelwerk Neuschwander, Brackenhein (600mm gauge) At the end of 2004, the short railway here closed. The works is reported to have been sold, and the railway taken up. This was the last regular working 'Feldbahn' in the Baden-Württemburg area of Germany. |
ROMANIA July 2005
Visiu de Sus (760mm gauge) An 0-8-0T O&K steam loco has been overhauled for use on the Viseu de Sus line for both timber trains and passenger trains. The loco is 764.211 which had previously operated on the forestry lines of Margina and Berzasca, but had been plinthed in the Village Museum in Buchurest for many years. The work is costing 70,000 Euros, and was due for completion for summer 2005. |
AUSTRIA July 2005
Pinzgaurbahn There was a head on colision between two trains hauled by the 2095 locos on 2nd July 2005. A driver and one passenger was killed with over 30 people injured. Both locos suffered heavy damage. 8 days later severe flooding in the area resulted in sections of the track being washed away. Reports suggest that it could take up to 5 months to completely reopen the whole line, at a cost of 10 million Euros. (Posted 17.09.05 Source: Today's Railways) |
GERMANY: May 2005 Torfwerk Bernhard Wübbeler (600mm gauge) It is a pleasant surprise to find a narrow gauge railway re-instated for industrial use. This peatworks at Goldenstedt-Arkeburg ceased peat transport several years ago, and the site had been developed as a visitor park using the railway to take visitors onto the moors. |
During a visit in April it has been found to be back in use for the transport of peat using three of the locos that had been retained.
Torfwerk Gramann, Vechta (600mm gauge) This company has ceased the use of the railway. It used to share the same line to the moors as Zubrägel Torfwerk. |
The railway at one time served 4 peat companies to the south of Vechta. Zubrägel, situated next to Gramann, are the only company that now use this line of about 4kms in length. (Posted 29.05.05 Source: Andreas Christopher Website) |
LITHUANIA: April 2005 Panavezys (750mm gauge) The line between Panavezys and Rubikiai does not now have any scheduled services. Currently the status of the line appears safe with an agreement that it will remain open for charter services. (Posted 02.04.05 Source: Eastern Star via the NGN) | Industrial Tour Commercial Railway Tours are not normally highlighted in these pages but a tour by FarRail Tours taking place in May 2005 does deserve mention. The tour is to Lithuania and is to visit several narrow gauge peat lines in the country, as well as the system at Panavezys. | For further details of this tour which is just 1 week long, please visit the web site for FarRail Tours at Lithuania NG Tour . Their main site is at www.farrail.com . (Posted 02.04.05 Source: Udrius Armalis) |
CROATIA: November 2004 Fish farm Poljana, Poljana(760mm gauge)Reported on the Frank Engel website is a facinating railway serving a fish farm in Poljana. This is situated between Garesnica and Daruvar. The lenght of the line is approximately 20km. There are 5 diesels of which one is a Jung OMZ122F. To see a translated version of this page follow this link to Frank's site; Poljana Fish Farm | POLAND: November 2004 Kalksandsteinwerk, Altkarbe, Kurowo (600mm gauge) This short railway of just 0.1km was confirmed working with a single loco in August 2004. Cegielnia Gizyn, Gora Sl. (600mm gauge) A typical Polish claypit line with a double track incline into the works. Confirmed working in May 2004. Cegielnia Jankow, Jankow (600mm gauge) This railway of 0.2km was confirmed working with the single Raba loco in March 2004. | Cegielnia Bojanice, Kwilen (600mm gauge) Since the brickworks at Iwno has closed down this is the last known railway in Poland using horse power. Confirmed working in May 2004. See Frank Engel's site for details of these and other railways Feldbahn site (Select the option 'vorbuild' from the left hand menu for the industrial railways). Alternatively see the translated site for details Feldbahn site (Select the 'model' option for the industrial railways). |
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© Steve Thomason 2005
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