Europe
For lists which includes many European Museum sites see European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways http://www.fedecrail.org/en/index_en.html
and http://www.innvista.com/culture/travel/rail/museuro.htm
(various languages). If you are prepared to spend some time browsing then the
pictures on this site will take you to many preservation sites - http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix_frameset.html.
Austria (updated
13th September 2015)
For an English language summary of extant lines please check out http://www.austrian-railways.org/argng.htm
(link is dead, hijacked 26th March 2012). These
are direct links to most of the operating railway's websites which are largely
German language although the major ones have parts in English. The amount of
steam activity varies from daily in the tourist season to occasional.
There is a list of 14 narrow gauge railways (some closed, some non-steam) on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Narrow_gauge_railways_in_Austria
amazingly at the time of writing it does not include some of those in the list below...
Belgium (updated
12th June 2019)
Thomas Kautzor reports on De Bakkersmolen, a flour mill,
bakery and restaurant in Essen-Wildert which has a
short 600mm gauge tourist railway (30th September 2013).
Stoomcentrum Maldegem has a 600mm gauge railway. None of the
five steam locomotives present is serviceable, but one at least will be
restored fairly soon. Read Thomas Kautzor's
report (30th September 2013).
The ASVi at Thuin is basically a tram museum but it has now
restored its metre gauge steam tram locomotive and plan to run it on selected
days. Check the timetable on their website for more information - see http://www.asvi.be/index/index.htm
and look for the orange and red days in the 2019 version (12th June
2019).
Bosnia
(updated 9th October 2014)
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The coal mine at Banovici has working steam, although I believe its status is
now spare to diesels. For the reports check the Europe page
on this site (latest report may be 9th October
2014). Click here for James Waite's photo report of a double headed
charter in February 2012 (2nd March 2012)
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Bulgaria
(updated 23rd May 2014)
Czech Republic
(updated 12th September 2019)
Shaun Wallace has compiled a comprehensive summary of all
narrow gauge operations in the country (steam and diesel). It is available as a
pdf download and is essential reading for any one planning a visit to the
country (12th September 2019). It is especially welcome as most of the
information below is at least 5 years old.
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An extraordinary story is the construction of a
replica 600mm gauge Orenstein and Koppel 0-6-0T by 'Kolínská
Lokomotivní'. Chris Capewell found it nearing completion in early
September 2014 and Ing. Svatopluk Šlechta captured the locomotive on
4th October 2014 during its first test run at Sendražice (Kolín) on the
restored railway there (see below). For more information see http://www.1loco.eu/EN.building.replicas.steam.locomotives.php
or http://www.1loco.eu (Links dead by May 2023). |
Thomas Kautzor adds (21st April 2015) "It was built by 1. Kolínská Lokomotivní, which is owned by the Bednar brothers from
Brno. They have restored a number of standard and narrow gauge steam locos so far, including the two Brigadeloks MI-631 and MI-611 for the Ventspils park railway:
The OK 40 HP 0-6-0T is their only newly built loco so far but they are also offering to build other OK 0-4-0T and 0-6-0T models (10 to 50 HP):
There is, however, not a big market for newly-built narrow gauge steam locos, because
the financial cost of acquiring an existing loco and restoring it is roughly equal.
They have however built a non-working replica Brigadelok for display in a park in Zemplínske Hámre (eastern Slovakia). The loco looks very close to the real thing and even incorporates some parts taken off MI-631 from Ventspils when is was overhauled at
Kolin:
http://www.zemplinskehamre.sk/galerie_detail.php?id=1468&gal_id=39
(link broken by 1st November 2018)
http://www.kovarstvisokolik.cz/restaurovani/Parni-lokomotiva.html
(Link broken by May 2023)
http://www.teraz.sk/fotodennik/historia-a-sucasnost-obce-zemplinsk/81612-fotografia.html
http://humenne.dnes24.sk/unikatny-projekt-v-zemplinskych-hamroch-za-viac-ako-milion-eur-vacsina-penazi-pride-zo-svajciarska-174816
The 40 HP OK was on display at the Prag Technical Museum for three months over the
winter 2015-5.
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The narrow gauge lines from Jindřichův to Hradec and Obrataň operate a
diesel service with steam on summer weekends and special days, for their own
website see http://www.jhmd.cz/.
In addition to the U47 here originally, Heinrich Hubbert adds (1st September 2008)
that in August 2008 there were two further steam locomotives working - a Resita
and a PX 48.
James Waite has sent a
report of his visit (2nd September 2008), to which I have added a couple of
loco portrait shots (30th August 2014)..
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Heinrich Hubbert adds (1st September 2008) a Resita 0-8-0T is now available for
special workings on the last CD narrow gauge line between Osoblaha and Třemešná
in the North East of the country - see http://www.orchestrion.cz/narrow.htm
(Link broken by December 2023. RD) for basic information on this railway and http://ftp.czechtourism.com/133premier/en/cd/en/news/news133.htm
(link is dead) for information on steam operation (at least in 2006). James Waite has now been
there to see a repatriated (from Bosnia) Skoda
0-10-0 at work (updated with historical notes, 28th February 2011).
Thomas Nugent (via Chris Allen and Chris Hodrien) reports (14th August 2008):
"I went to a restored narrow gauge railway in a large industrial town called Kolin, a pleasant 50 mile round trip along the Labe by bike (the old paddle steamer is still there by the way, untouched). I was at Kolin last year when restoration work was still under way, but it is now open to the public and runs a weekend
service. I had a look at
http://www.mapy.cz and it appears that all of the buildings have been erected in the past couple of years. Money came from the EU as well as local companies such as Toyota. They have a web site with some English content -
http://www.zeleznicka.bloudil.cz/?lang=cz (link dead by 12th April 2018).
It was built in the 1840s to carry sugar beet from the fields to the processing plant."
The Zbýšov museum of industrial railways, and its associated 600mm gauge line between Zastávka u Brna and Zbýšov
are close to Brno. The operating line runs on the trackbed of an old standard gauge line originally built to connect coal mines at Zbýšov with the main line at Zastávka. They have a 1951-built CKD 0-4-0T which runs on some dates and operate some of their extensive collection of historic diesel and electric locos on others. Details of their 2012 schedule are at
http://www.reuz.cz/uvod/ (Czech language - the steam dates are the ones in the list starting "Jízdy s parní
lokomotivou"). Note that there's a connecting main line steam special from Brno scheduled for 22nd September 2012. There are briefer details of the line at
http://www.mpz.cz which has an English-language page.
(All this paragraph revised thanks to James Waite, 24th November 2011)
Up in the north east of the country there's the Mladějov 760mm gauge line, now a heritage steam railway but formerly an industrial line. Two of its distinctive Krauss Linz locos survive and have both been in operation in 2011. Its website, Czech language only, is at
http://www.mladejov.cz/uvodni-stranka.
For
some excellent pictures of the railway when it was still real, see http://spz.logout.cz/uzke/cz_mladejov/mladejov.html
(link broken, 1st November 2019, Czech language, added 18th November 2009). James Waite visited in
September 2018, his report includes some
historical information on the line (9th January 2019).
Denmark
(updated 1st June
2008)
Estonia
(updated 18th November 2009)
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At Lavassaare is what is called a museum but is actually preserved narrow
gauge railway - see http://www.museumrailway.ee/.
James Waite was
here in July 2009 (25th July 2009). For more information on Peat Railways in
Estonia, please see this page - http://spz.logout.cz/uzke/ee_tootsi/ee_t-l.html
(link broken, 1st November 2019).
It is in Czech but readily and (dare I say it) quite well using Google
translate. This link added on 18th November 2009.
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Finland
(updated 29th August 2009)
France
(updated 17th August 2022 with news of the opening of the Train des Fort
d'Uxegney near Epinal at the end of May,
2022.)
A key website is that of UNECTO (http://www.unecto.fr/),
but see also http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm,
note narrow gauge lines may not be immediately obvious among any lists I have
seen.
The magazine Voie Etroite has a list of tourist railways, many of which of
course will not be narrow and maybe not even steam!
http://www.voieetroite.com/annu_cft.htm.
This section has historically been allowed to grow in a totally unplanned
manner. After some prodding and assistance I am happy to present it in a more
helpful manner: Given the shape of the country (almost square) the best way to
list the lines seems to be alphabetically by region / area:
Auvergne
Bourgogne
Centre
- Train du Bas-Berry (SABA) (metre gauge) -
http://traintouristiquedubasberry.com/horairestarifs.html
(Link broken by December 2023. RD) (21st June 2010)
Ile de France
- Musee de Tramways a Vapeur et des Chemin de Fer Secondaires
Francais (formerly Musée des Transports de la Vallée du
Saudderon, Valmondois) (metre gauge)
- short rides only - http://www.musee-mtvs.com/, see Thomas
Kautzor's report from August 2013 (24th November 2013) and his
October 2018 update (12th October 2018). It seems that relocation of
the operational side to near Crèvecoeur-le-Grand north of Beauvais has
gone ahead. The website suggests that the museum is still at Butry-sur-Oise
but only open to pre-booked groups of 20 or more.
Lorraine
- Toul Military Railways, Lorraine, NO
STEAM but a cracking tale, see Thomas Kautzor's report from
July 2014 (10th Aug 2014)
- CGTVN (Canal Towing) Locomotives around Toul, Lorraine,
NO STEAM but a fascinating story, see Thomas Kautzor's report from
July 2014 (10th Aug 2014) and the similar neighbouring
‘Traction de l’Est’ (TE), (also 10th Aug 2014). the Train des Fort
d' Uxegney
- The Train des Fort d'Uxegney,
no steam currently, but see Thomas Kautzor's report from
July 2014 of an interesting embryonic railway linking two former forts (updated
12th August 2018).
The railway finally opened in May 2022 and Thomas paid
an early visit (17th August 2022), they have a steam locomotive on loan
for a year.
Midi-Pyrénées
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Picardie
- Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (metre gauge) -
http://www.chemin-fer-baie-somme.asso.fr/ (Link broken by December 2023. RD)
-
see James Waite's reports of an
April 2009 visit (19th May 2009) and an
April 2013 visit (updated for April 2014, 23rd May 2014)
- Le P'tit train de la Haute Somme, Froissy - Cappy - Dom, http://appeva.club.fr/index_e.htm
(link broken by December 2021) .
James Waite (with some help from Thomas Kautzor) has posted an account of
the railway (20th September 2013)
Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur
- Thomas Kautzor has produced a 'potpourri' of preserved
items in this area which includes some narrow gauge items, some of which
are steam, but save that above none active (10th September 2015).
Rhône Alpes
- CF Vivarais (metre gauge) Perhaps the best known of all French preserved
railways, it suddenly closed in 2008 (18th April
2008) but has since risen from its
death bed. Robert Brown has pointed out than Euros 13,000,000 has been invested
in the CF Vivarais with the result that 'Velorail' services were available in
2011, railcars ran in 2012 and steam returned in 2013.
The main website was http://www.mastrou.com/ ((site ineffective by September
2015), now it is http://trainardeche.fr/wp/
(English).
The restoration has been recorded in a series of pages from May 2011 http://www.forum-train.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5972&start=0.
The only real downside is the loss of the connection to the main line at Tournon
with its mixed gauge running. By 2015, SACM Mallet 414 is now also operational and alternates in service with SLM Mallet 403.
Thomas Kautzor was here just after re-opening in
July 2013 and you can read his somewhat jaundiced
report of what he found. "Must try harder"
sums it up (20th September 2013).
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There's precious little steam (and none of it active) in James Waite's report
on the narrow gauge railways of Mont Blanc, but
plenty of interest to the ng enthusiast in general (25th August 2011, updated
21st October 2013 and again 20th June 2015).
- The CF Velay (part of the old Vivarais system), https://velay-express.fr/
has PO Correze 0-4-4-0T no 101 one of the original locomotives. This is
James Waite's picture from an April 2019 charter but the railway does have
public services (added 4th June 2019).
Germany
(Updated with a Harz
visit (29th April 2024) and news from the Frankfurter Feldbahn Museum (16th
December 2023)).
For a summary of extant lines please check out http://www.schmalspurbahn.de/
(German language site). A further internet search should identify English
language sites where they exist. I have not been able to identify an English
language site covering the German narrow gauge (steam) railways adequately.
Not strictly an operating railway, although it
has a lengthy demonstration line some 2km long is the Frankfurter Feldbahn Museum,
you can read about James
Waite's June 2009 visit (added 21st June 2009). Chris Yapp was here in June
2012 and you can see his photo report (14th
June 2012). Thomas Kautzor was here at the
end of May 2014 (6th June 2014) and attended the Museum's 40th anniversary
celebrations in May 2015 (19th May 2015). James Waite returned
in December 2019 (17th December 2019). The museum has now acquired a tiny 5
HP Jung 0-4-0T (255/1896) which was delivered for an amusement park in Mexico
City and seems to have been in store since the revolution in 1910. Its
remarkable story is contained in this forum post https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?108,10637421
(16th December 2023).
In the same style are two short railways visited by Thomas Kautzor,
Nüremberg's Feldbahnmuseum 500 e.V (30th
September 2013) and Berlin's Parkeisenbahn
with appendix covering 'Merapi' a Javan
Returnee... and information on its sister locomotives, (both added 30th
September 2013).
The following are, perhaps, among the better known of those operating steam services,
being mainly in the former East Germany and having maintained 'real steam' into
reunification, but now they are all effectively 'preserved' operations. But
there is a lot more than these if you dig around in the site above and I shall
be happy to add specific recommendations to the list below.
Bavaria
Hessen
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:
-
Bad Doberan's Mecklenburgische Bäderbahn "Molli" GmbH - 900mm -
http://www.molli-bahn.de. The railway has commissioned a
brand new extra locomotive to deal with its buoyant traffic http://www.molli-bahn.de/Dampflokomotive_99_2324-4.295.0.html
(added 7th December 2008, link dead by October 2014). It was delivered on 25th March and will
presumably enter service shortly reports Louis Cerny (19th April 2009).
-
Putbus - Göhren, Rügensche Kleinbahn GmbH - 750mm - http://www.rasender-roland.de.
Niedersachsen
Sachsen:
There are reports of visits to these lines elsewhere on the site:
Sachsen-Anhalt
Baden-Württemberg
North Rhine-Westphalia
Rheinland Pfalz
The following are historical notes which were originally hosted on the main
Europe page but are more appropriately now placed here.
David Thornhill (19th March 2003) has gently chastised me for not promoting the steam on
the various narrow gauge systems of the former East Germany, some of which could
then fairly be
regarded as very real. Read
his review of the services (updated 14th December 2003).
Louis Cerny has visited the well known Harz lines and has sent a short report (10th November
2003). Louis also reports on an unusual gauge narrowing on this railway with
consequential new steam service (9th April 2006):
"The Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen will formally open its new line from Quedlinburg to Gernrode (converted from 1435mm to 1000mm gauge) on April 8th with a special 5 hr 33 min trip from Quedlinburg to Brocken using three steam locomotives. My understanding is that a regular service of three steam round trips per day (plus additional railcar trips) between Quedlinburg and Gernrode will start June 26, and that test steam trains have operated since March
4th." Louis also tells me the welcome news (1st
December 2008) that at long last the Freital-Hainsberg - Dippoldiswalde - Kipsdorf "Weißeritztalbahn"
will have re-opened as far as Dippoldiswalde on 14th December 2008.
Roland Beier points out that when the long trumpeted transfer of the Radebeul
Ost-Radeburg line occurs (expected in December 2003, again in April 2004 and now most
likely in May 2004) then this will finally bring to an end scheduled steam on DB. (7th April 2004).
Andreas Illert adds (8th September 2004) - the transfer of the Radebeul-Radeburg line from DB to
BVO Bahn GmbH (the operator of the Cranzahl-Oberwiesental line) happened on June 21, so scheduled steam on DB is over (once again after 1977).
Greece (updated
19th November 2016)
Many metre gauge steam locomotives survive, but I have not seen any
suggestions that any are serviceable. The 600mm line to Milies has been part
restored as a tourist operation but owing to fire risk, their steam locomotives
see limited operation. Local railfans charter steam trains here from time to
time. For more pictures visit http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gr/narrow_gauge/steam/pix.html
which also includes static preserved items elsewhere in the country.
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James Waite went to Volos and rode one of the rare specials on 6th March 2010
- read his
report which includes pictures of other preserved narrow and metre gauge
items (15th March 2010).
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The 750mm gauge line between Diakofto and Kalavryta is a (part) rack system which
in theory could see steam charters but no reports of such seem to have been made
in recent years. The line is reported open and working normally with new diesel
railcars after repairs in November 2009 - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diakofto_Kalavrita_Railway.
In the circumstances of the country as a whole, astonishing news is that DK
8.001 based at Kalavryta has been overhauled and since joined by a coach. Test
runs within the station (May 2015) and to Kerpini (June 2015) have been
completed and once remaining considerable formalities are completed the way will
be open for occasional special trains. The picture is courtesy of Nikos
Kantitirs. For a local version of the story and an extended YouTube clip, see http://www.kalavrytanews.com/2015/06/Steam-Locomotive-dk-8001-on-test-Run-at-Kalavrita.html.
(9th July 2015) James Waite attended the 120th anniversary celebrations in
November 2016, read his report (19th November
2016).
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Hungary
(updated 29th April 2024)
Particular mention should be made of the Gysev operation, the 3.6km museum
railway "Széchenyi" in Nagycenk with regular scheduled steam - see https://www.gysev.hu/.- link dead by July 2020
- which
can be translated and look for 'Railway Museum'. The 2019 timetable is here https://www2.gysev.hu/muzeumvasut/menetrend
- link dead by July 2020 - but it's an image and is therefore immune to translation software. James Waite
has been told by the railway that 2019 steam days are June 29, 30 - July, 13, 14, 27,
28 - August 17, 18 (12th June 2019), which means it's the days in the bottom
line above the timings.
Aditya Budidarma has told me (6th
December 2023) about two further Forestry Museum railways which use
steam. The links are in Hungarian but can be readily translated. He subsequently
visited Kemence on 27th April
2024.
Kemence Forestry Railway Museum - official Facebook
Page https://www.facebook.com/Muzeumvasut
Susy Forestry Railway Museum official Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/ZsuzsiVasut
There appears to be a 14km preserved forestry railway at Lillafüred with
some steam operation
- read James
Waite's report (added 24th September 2010). James has been told (12th June
2019) that the locomotive has now been plinthed at one of the stations at Diosgyor which is the line’s eastern terminus in the outskirts of Miskolc.
James also visited Szilvasvarad
nearby which has one steam locomotive which could perhaps be made serviceable
but hasn't run for some time (updated 12th June 2019). ..
The Királyrét Forest Railway connects Kismaros and
Szokolya, located near the Duna-Ipoly National Park and the Slovak border. Ex
Romanian 490.2004 operates here from time to time but you'll have to negotiate
this website to find out exactly when - http://www.kisvasut-kiralyret.fw.hu/
(17th November 2009).
Peter Nettleship recommends the Budapest Children's Railway (formerly the
Young Pioneers' Railway until 1990), in the Buda Hills and easily combined with
rides on the rack tram and funicular - see http://www.gyermekvasut.com
(moved from the museums page, 21st November 2009, link dead by 25th October
2016), at the time according to their website
steam was used at the weekends. By 2019 (thanks to James Waite for the
information) steam use is very limited, the timetable here is https://www.gyermekvasut.hu/menetrend-2/
(13th June 2019). In fact by the time this appears it will be almost too late
for a 2019 visit! James got there just in time and you
can read what he found (20th June 2019).
Ireland
(updated 6th February 2024)
The vast majority of Ireland's wonderful 3ft gauge railways were swept away
many years ago. The Irish Steam Preservation Society have a small operational
railway of relatively recent origin - http://irishsteam.ie/.
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James Waite has sent me a
report of his own visit (updated 14th June 2010) to the following
systems:
For want of a better place to show it, I have
added James' 2019 pictures of the replica Lartigue
locomotive at Panissieres in France to the report above(4th June 2019).
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James has made further visits to the West Clare Railway
(updated 4th November 2010). See their own
website - http://www.westclarerailway.ie.
The website has not been updated for 2019 but James Waite (12th June 2019) has
found out that "Slieve Callan" will run as follows in 2019 (13.00 -
16.00 each day)
-
June - Sunday June 9 & Sunday June 23
-
July - Sunday July 7 & Saturday July 20
-
August - Sunday August 4 & Sunday August 25
However, the railway failed to reopen for the
2022 season and remains closed according to its website. No reason is given and
I have been unable to find any further information on the web (added 6th
February 2024).
Not strictly for this section as it is non-operational, but as I don't list
Irish museums... James Waite has sent a report of the
Ulster Transport and Folk Museum which has many narrow gauge exhibits (24th
February 2012).
Italy (updated
17th August 2022)
Italian steam was always 'different' and so were their narrow gauge railways,
being built to 950mm gauge (they built the Eritrean railway
too).
See also on this site Italian Railway Heritage and Preservation
- with links to areas with narrow gauge steam. Thomas Kautzor has compiled an
illustrated list of surviving narrow gauge steam locomotives in the country
(Two extra pictures, 9th November 2021), he continues to add to his photographic collection but no
doubt would appreciate help infilling the gaps. If you can help, please email me
in the first instance, there is an address at the bottom of this page.
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The best known of such railways are those on Sardinia, several of which have
steam locomotives which are nominally serviceable but they seem only to be used
for well-heeled tour groups and even then, not entirely in accordance with the
advertised schedule... James
Waite was in Sardinia in May 2009 and provided an illustrated report (17th June
2009). Clive Hepworth visited the lines in June
2017, he found the island charming but the solitary active steam locomotive
runs but rarely, the museum is closed and the service trains are not well
supported (11th July 2017).
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One additional preserved steam locomotive on
Sardinia is a 750mm gauge Jung 0-4-0T which formerly worked a granite quarry on Isla La Maddalena
- Thomas Kautzor was able to visit it in May
2022 (added 17th August 2022)..
Also on the mainland in Calabria there are two 950mm gauge sections run by the Ferrovie della
Calabria, both of them very much working railways. James Waite has produced an article on
the Ferrovie
Calabro-Lucane including a map (updated 24th February 2010, based on a previous
article, 26th November 2009). The article has now been updated to reflect
353's return to service (8th September 2015).
One is based on Cosenza and consists of two lines up into the mountains, one of which finishes at Catanzaro Lido on the south coast and includes a short rack section down an escarpment from Catanzaro city. In theory three steam locos are available for tourist trains out of
Cosenza. RTC had, optimistically as ever, promised to run all three of them, no's. 353, 403 and (rack) 504 in action on three days in September 2008. In practice it was fortunate that 353's boiler certificate had been temporarily extended which allowed it to operate on one of the days as 403's repairs were never going to be completed in time (the loco was recently described as 'a kit of parts') and 504 is currently in Cosenza works with front end problems... It was probably a good job that the local vino is very palatable!
The second section is based on Gioia Tauro. There's been no active steam here for many years but
Breda-built 2-6-0T 188 has been kept in semi-open storage at Gioia Tauro depot and there's a long-term plan to restore it to working order.
These pictures are courtesy of James Waite:
Latvia (updated
18th November 2009)
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There are two operational railways at Ventspils and Gulbene
- read the report James
Waite's July 2007 visit (updated 25th July 2009). See also this Czech
language report on non-steam operation at Gulbene - http://spz.logout.cz/uzke/lv_banitis/banitis.html
(link broken, 1st November 2019, added 18th November 2009)
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Netherlands
(updated 30th September 2013)
See this site for a list of Dutch railway museums - http://www.railmusea.nl.
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Recommended (by James Waite) narrow gauge destinations are below - you can read
his report on them (added 25th September 2007):
-
Valkenburgse Meer (National) Narrow Gauge Museum (SVM) (700mm with other
gauges as exhibits), Valkenburg near Leiden. Kees Plug writes (13th February
2016) "We recently (2015) changed our name from Stoomtrein Valkenburgse Meer / Nationaal Smalspoormuseum to Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden. Accordingly the name of the site has changed to
www.stoomtreinkatwijkleiden.nl. We now also have an English page
www.stoomtreinkatwijkleiden.nl/english/."
-
Museum R.T.M. Ouddorp (1067mm) - http://www.rtm-ouddorp.nl/
(look for the English icon)
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This park also has an operational narrow gauge steam locomotive - First
Drenthe Association of Steam Aficionados (EDS), Barger Compascuum,
see Thomas Kautzor's report (30th September
2013).
Norway
(updated 13th August 2013)
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For an excellent summary see "A VISITORS' GUIDE
TO NORDIC (SCANDINAVIAN) NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS" by Philip Pacey (link
amended 29th October 2017). On
this site, you can read James Waite's accounts:
-
”Tertitten” - the Urskog-Hølandsbanen Railway.
James was back for spectacular steam with sun and snow in December 2010 - see
his report! The show will be repeated on December 19th (God permitting
for the sun) and again on New Year's Eve when a certain gentleman called Roar Stenersen will be driving
the latter news added, 15th December 2010). Chris Yapp has provided
an update (13th August 2013).
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The Setesdalsbanen
(updated 16th October 2008). Chris Yapp has provided
an update (13th August 2013).
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The Lommedalsbanen is an industrial railway museum with a short 600mm gauge running line of around one kilometre in length in the forest near Lommedalen which is about 10
km from Sandvika on the main Oslo to Drammen road. See Chris Yapp's short
report from 2013 (13th August 2013).
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Poland
(updated 26th December 2013)
For a general introduction, see www.narrowrail.net/
(added 28th December 2013), http://www.cleeve.com/poland/ and http://www.schmalspurbahn-in-polen.de/
(German language).
It seems that the children's railway in Poznan has at
least one serviceable steam locomotive, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Railway_Maltanka,
see also http://polishrail.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/celebrations-at-maltanka/
(26th December 2013).
Mark Palmer prodded me into providing some better information on the
Polish narrow gauge scene and now James Waite has produced an
article which summarises the situation in 2012 (updated 3rd August 2012).
That report is now clearly dated and a rare good bit of good news is that
the Krosnice Park Railway is now operational with some services operated by PKP Px48-1907
which was formerly on the Nowy Dwór system. For more information consult http://krosnicepelnapara.pl/cms/index.php/narrow-gauge-railway-of-krosnice
(26th December 2013, link dead by October 2014).
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The Sroda line, which friends of Mark Palmer visited in
2011 (they said it still looked much the same as in my 1995 photos), is a steam-worked preserved operation running at summer
weekends, see http://www.sredzkakolej.pl/ (some information in English).
Click here for a report of James Waite's visits for
charters in April 2008 and 2012
(14th June 2012).
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The Gniezno line may run summer weekend tourist trains, but it
currently has problems, see http://www.gkw-gniezno.pl/ (Polish only).
Click here for a report of James Waite's visit for a charter in April 2012
(14th June 2012).
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James Waite visited Cisna - a former forestry railway in the Carpathians
now a tourist railway - for one of their fairly
rare steam days (updated 13th June 2010).
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James Waite visited the Żnin District Railway (and the Wenecja
narrow gauge railway museum) in April 2012 for a
charter with their steam locomotive (15th May 2012)
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James Waite visited the Gryfice
Railway (and associated metre gauge museum) back in 2008. As the railway
reaches re-opening after reconstruction, his
report is very welcome (17th June 2012).
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James Waite completes his survey of the remaining preserved railways with
some steam operation with a visit to Elk
(1st August 2012)
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Portugal (updated
8th April 2020)
Metre gauge Mallet E214 has been serviceable in recent
years but a combination of fire bans, gauge conversions and sundry other
problems have severely limited operation. The last report of it I have was
that it had been "moved from Regua to Guifoes works for inspection"
in April 2007, by September 2007 it was back in Regua where there were 5
other Mallets in fair condition (report by Trevor Heath - click
here for pictures - added 4th October 2007). It is now on the Vouga line
where it worked its first special public
train on 14th December 2019 (22nd December 2019).
No active steam but I have a report from James Waite of his visit to the south of the
country for some
interesting industrial steam survivors at Lousal and Aljustrel (24th
December 2008, updated with a non-narrow gauge steam loco, 8th April 2020). James returned in January 2009 to visit a couple of the country's
railway museums near Lisbon (6th March 2009).
James had a rapid return and reported on a
day out in the Porto area (14th March 2009).
Romania (updated
14th September 2015)
The railway at Viseus de Sus remains operational on a
reduced scale - click
here for the reports. As of mid-2008, the service was suspended owing to
severe flood damage, but the line has since re-opened.
Since when a number of narrow gauge steam
locomotives have been restored to operational condition. Bertram Frenzel
reports on the possibilities to see active
steam in the country (14th September 2015), either on tourist trains or
authentic recreations.
Russia
(updated 11th April 2017)
For an entry point into the world of Russian (and former
Russian Empire) narrow gauge start here - http://narrow.parovoz.com/indexe.php.
Unfortunately the rest of the site is in Russian...
The Wikipedia entry for Narrow Gauge Rolling Stock known to be incomplete but
useful especially for the content on this page (16th June 2014)
Hardly active steam but a fascinating 2014 story is the recovery of two
abandoned narrow gauge steam locomotives from Puksinka in Sverdlovsk Oblast
(1st April 2014).
James Waite tells me that the narrow gauge museum at Pereslavl (email
contact: "office at kukushka.ru") had a steaming week
which saw Ft4 0-6-2T on Monday-Tuesday (two days, June 18th/19th 2012) and the
Kp-4 0-8-0 on Thursday-Friday (two
days, June 21st/22nd 2012). The Ft4 loco is 0-6-2T
Ft-4-028 (Фт4-028 in Cyrillic script), one of a series built for the USSR as WW2 reparations by the Finns and the only survivor of its class. The
Kp-4 loco is
Kp-4-469 (Кп4-469), one of the Polish-built PT-4 locos
(= Chinese
C2's), (all this 6th
May 2012). James returned in June 2012 to see
two of the locomotives in steam (27th June 2012).
There is a narrow gauge railway and museum at
Pereslavl,
see http://narrow.parovoz.com/pereslavl/main-e.html
and the official site (in Russian) http://kukushka.ru
(added 31st May 2008) but there is now (24th November 2009) an English
version http://www.kukushka.ru/english/
which should be expanded as time allows. James Waite was here in August 2009
(added 11th August 2009).
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Similarly at Nizhni Novgorod - James Waite and
Thomas Kautzor were here in August 2009 (added 11th August 2009).
The (new) St. Petersburg Children's Railway
has active Kp-4-447 reports Harvey Smith (updated 28th July 2015).
The children's railway at Ekaterinburg has
an OK 0-8-T, restored 0-8-0 VP-4-1425 and is working on Gr- 318 from Georgia,
this system is often referred to as a narrow gauge museum, but operates
through the summer from May (11th April 2017).
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Wikipedia states there
were 52 children's railways in the former Soviet Union at the time of
its break up and lists some of them and those in satellite countries. For a
Russian site dedicated to them see http://www.dzd-ussr.ru/.
Serbia
(updated 9th March 2011)
There is working steam at Kostolac Open Cast Mine, several 900mm Davenport 0-8-0's like UNRRA locomotives
are here. For the reports check the Europe page on
this site.
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There is a narrow gauge railway and museum at Mokra Gora.
James Waite has a little belatedly supplied an illustrated
report of his visit to Mokra Gora in June
2008 (9th March 2011).
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Slovakia
(updated 23rd August 2024, prevviously 3rd June 2019)
This country seems to have 'fallen off the radar'
as far as this website is concerned, at least. Rod Smith visited in July 2024
and has sent a report (21st
August 2024) which will make a lot more sense if you read James Waite's
comprehensive reports from 2010 first (Part
1 and Part 2,see also below).
See Paul Steane's excellent enthusiast's guide to travel
in Europe http://egtre.info/wiki/Main_Page.
There is a metre gauge children's railway in the Cermel Valley near Kosice
- which uses U36.003 'Sam' / 'Katka'.
Čiernohronská Železnica Čierny Balog is a 760mm gauge former
forestry railway. It operates over 17km of track from Hronec zlieváreň (some 2km from Chvatimech
ŽSR)
station to Vydrovobetween.
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See (links revised 18th November 2009):
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Part of the former Kysuce-Orava railway is a 7km 760mm gauge line starting
from Skanzen Station, about 20km east of Čadca, it includes a reverse. As
far as I can gather it is part of the Kysuce Village Museum. See (all added 18th
November 2009):
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website - http://www.kysuckemuzeum.sk
(Slovak language)
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a copy of the 2009 timetable - http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&idp=6182 (Link
dead by May 2023)
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1999 visit report - http://spz.logout.cz/uzke/sk_vychylovka/vychylovka.html
(link broken, 1st November 2019, Czech language)
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History of this line - http://www.kruzok.sk/oldkruz/E_IND.HTM (website
dead by 29th October 2017)
http://www.expea.sk/EN/sluzby_nazelanie.html (link is dead but it was a good source on Slovak railways in general, added 18th November 2009) states
that "The Kysuce-Orava Forest Railway (KOLZ) came into existence by joining the Kysuce Forest Railway and the Orava Forest Railway - both railways are 760 mm gauge. At the peak of its fame, it had 110km. It had exclusively served for transporting wood. Its exceptionality lies in its well-preserved system of
zig-zags (Z reverses). At present, the railway is divided into two parts: the part in the region of Kysuce as the Historical Forest Zig Zag
Railway (HLÚŽ) and the part in the region of Orava as the Forest Zig Zag Railway Tanečník - Beskyd (LÚŽ). In future, the two railways shall be reconnected."
As of June 2011, the latter had an operational steam locomotive "Gontkulak"
which operated every Saturday and Sunday until October over 3.3 km of track, 5 times
a day. See http://www.oravamuzeum.sk/index.php/oravska-lesna-zeleznica/o-zeleznici.
(Thanks to James Waite for this, 4th August 2011.)
By 2019, use of "Gontkulak" had been
scaled back to conserve it and it now runs just three times a year. James Waite
visited in May 2019 and you can now read
about what he found (3rd June 2019).
Spain
(updated 23rd May 2024)
Steam trains, mainly for school parties, run between Martorell Enllac and Monistrol de
Montserrat on the metre gauge FGC between November and May. You can read James
Waite's account of his visit in November 2010, James has also sent an items
on (static) preserved steam locomotives around Girona
(updated 8th August 2015) preserved narrow gauge
steam and more in Aragon (16th February 2012).and (static) preserved steam locomotives
in Asturias (10th July 2012).
Thomas Kautzor has been back to the area and reports on the metre gauge rack FGC Ribes de Freser – Núria
and the 600mm gauge FGC La Pobla de Lillet,
neither has active steam but there are some interesting steam survivors among
the non-steam preserved stock (8th August
2015).
Thomas Kautzor reported on the
metre gauge CIFVM La Poveda on the outskirts of Madrid which has limited
running dates owing to fire risks (20th January 2016), he subsequently revisited
in March 2017 (18th April 2017)..
There are a few narrow gauge items in Thomas
Kautzor's report of a February 2016 visit to
Andalusia (22nd March 2017), Thomas has also sent a report on the remains of
the salt pan railways on Ibiza and Formentera
(22nd March 2017,updated 23rd May 2024).
The Basque Railway Museum at Azpeitia has an
associated 5km stretch of metre gauge railway, James
Waite visited in October 2018 (20th October 2018)..
Sweden
(updated 3rd August 2017)
For an excellent summary see "A VISITORS' GUIDE
TO NORDIC (SCANDINAVIAN) NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS" by Philip Pacey (link
amended 29th October 2017). For
Swedish language pages on the history of narrow gauge railways here see http://www.historiskt.nu/smalsp/smal_main.html
and http://www.jarnvagshistoria.se/index1.htm (27th
August 2011). Modellers will be interested in the diagrams which are to be found
on http://www.snabcon.se/gammal.html
(1st February 2017).
Switzerland
(updated 26th October 2015)
The following excellent links provide a good guide:
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Thomas Kautzor reports on the Schinznacher
Baumschulbahn, until recently the country's only 600mm gauge steam railway (updated
26th October 2016). The Parkbahn Letten
near Zurich, now has an active steam locomotive used on special occasions
(11th September 2015). |
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Click here for James
Waite's report on his visit to the Rhätische Bahn in February 2008, updated
2nd January 2009 with a link to public steam trains in 2009. He returned in
March 2009 to see the
railway's snowblower in action (6th March 2009). |
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The metre gauge Chemin de Fer du Jura operates two
former CP Mallets from time to time. You can read Thomas
Kautzor's report (12th September 2015) |
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Click here for James
Waite's report on his visit to the Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke in September 2009,
a spectacular (part) rack metre gauge railway with some pretty well travelled
steam locomotives (11th November 2009).
This railway celebrated its centenary in 2014 and Filippo
Ricci reports on the celebrations (30th
August 2014).
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James Waite was has been a regular visitor to Switzerland through
2009/2010, the lines are metre gauge unless otherwise indicated:
Note that the Waldenburgerbahn is undergoing
gauge conversion (to metre gauge) during 2018 and on 23rd September 2018,
there was a last steam run after which the loco was incarcerated in a
glass coffin - there being nowhere in the country to run it. (updated 8th
October 2018)
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There's precious little steam (and none of it active) in James Waite's report
on the narrow
gauge railways of Mont Blanc, but plenty of interest to the ng enthusiast in
general (25th August 2011)
Turkey
(added 28th January 2010)
James Waite sent a report on the Rahmi
M Koç museum, Istanbul (2nd October 2007) indicating that two narrow
gauge steam locomotives were 'missing'. Richard Foster has added
an update (29th January 2010) which indicates
that narrow gauge steam will soon be running in the heart of Istanbul.
Ukraine
(updated 8th July 2022)
There has been a preserved narrow gauge railway for some time between Irshava and Vynohradiv
- see http://spz.logout.cz/uzke/ua_borzava/borzava.html (link broken, 1st November
2019, needs translating from Czech) which continued to operate into 2010, albeit with
diesels. Gr 6
286 was at Irshava but has now been relocated to Kolochava, reports Jonathan
Sutton (8th September 2010) who has
sent some pictures.
United Kingdom (added
3rd September 2007)
This page offers links to most operational UK narrow gauge railways - http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/links/.
This page professes to list of all known UK narrow gauge railways
http://www.uklocos.com/ngrs/downloads/ngrs-guide-2012.doc.(link broken by December 2021)
See also UK Heritage Railways Site
but there is no specific narrow gauge list.
Rob Dickinson
Email:
webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk
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