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Dobre PKP and Sugar Factory
Dobre
Kujawsko-pomorskie
 
Gauge : 750mm gauge
Status : Ceased 2002
(click on photos to enlarge)

 
Dobre Sugar Factory Dobre lies in the centre of Poland, approx 40km south of Torun. It formed part of the 750mm gauge network linking Sompolno and Krosniewice. Tracks leading off from the back of the station crossed the main road and entered Cuckrownia(Sugar Factory) Dobre. A combination of trains operated by both the PKP and Sugar Factory trains could be observed here in the beet season.  

 

Date: October 1993

Date: October 1993

Date: October 1993

The sugar beet season ran from about October to March, and Dobre station could see the arrival of long sugar beet trains, in this case hauled by a PKP LXD2.

The large 450hp LXD2 diesels travelled the 200 meters from the station to the reception sidings of the factory where the loaded wagons are deposited, as seen on the left hand track. The standard gauge tankers of raw sugar, and sugar pulp waste in narrow gauge wagons are then taken away. The standard gauge mineral wagons on transporters on the right will have contained coal for use by the sugar factory.

In 1993, the smaller Wls150 locos from the factory were used to break the long trains into smaller sections and haul them into the factory. This often required the use of at least two of these locos.

 

Date: October 1993

Date: October 1993

Date: October 1993

Inside the factory, there was a large network of narrow gauge tracks still in use. A variety of locomotives could still be seen at this time.

The loco sheds and works were accessed via a hand operated turntable. Here, as well as further Wls150s, there were several older Wls50 locos, along with the more powerful LYD2 locos seen behind.

In 1993, disused steam locos could still be found in some locations, and at the end of a disused siding an old LAS type 0-6-0 was seen slowly rusting away. Other steam locos from this factory have been preserved at Sochaczew museum. The last steam loco to work in a sugar factory is thought to have been at Zbiersk in 1991.

Date: October 1993

Date: October 1993

Date: October 2000

Inside the sugar factory long lines of beet wagons await unloading

Still in 1993, a small goods unloading point was in use at the end of the PKP station, and here a LXD2 shunts out a covered van after unloading.

By 2000 on the sugar factory lines, all the line work was being covered by the LYD2 locos seen here crossing the main road on route from Strozewo.

Date: October 2000

The same loco slowly pushing loaded wagons over the weighbridge just outside the sugar factory.

 
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© Steve Thomason 2020
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