Narrow Gauge in Slovakia 2024

Back in 2010, James Waite supplied a comprehensive report which appears on this site in two parts and it is essential reading if you are not familiar with the scene here:

Part 1 (Hungary and Slovakia excerpt Cierny Balog)

Part 2 (Cierny Balog):

Several narrow gauge lines and plinthed locomotives were visited in July. The excellent reports by James Waite were used in the planning of the trip and where appropriate updates are provided below.

Pribylina/Liptovsky Hradec

The young lady guide we had was very knowledgeable and four steam locomotives were present outside the shed as apart from us another group had been expected but had now cancelled. She provided details of all of them which accord with James’ notes except that the locomotive James describes as Bp 4279 carries U45.903.

In addition there was an 0-6-0T carrying no identification standing on a rake of log waggons. We were told at the time and in a subsequent email that “It's a replica of a lokomotive for kids to play with. We used some spare parts we no longer need (handles, chimney), frame and wheels from small cargo carriage and lots of metal sheets.” It looks almost too convincing for that to be the case. 

Vychylovka

The railway here joins with the line from Tanecnik (see below). Diesels were operating the day we were there but the shed contained the two locomotives photographed by James (shown at the bottom of his report on Tanecnik) along with an 0-8-0T by Henschel. In addition CKD 2612 (an 0-6-0) stands outside closer to the station. 

We enquired about the Krauss and were told that it was outside at the foot of a Z-reverse and that if we took the train it would stop specially to let us off to photograph the locomotive and pause on the return to pick us up again. Too good an offer to refuse.

Tanecnik

Again a diesel was working the line which was longer and steeper than we had expected. The train terminates at Sedlo Besked where there are fine views of the surrounding countryside. The line continues from there via a reverse (one of several) and connects with that from Vychylovka (above) and we were told that on occasions the through journey is made using a drasine as opposed to the usual locomotive and carriages.

The steam locomotive was in the shed at the start of the line and we were taken to see it. It looked in fine fettle and was due to be used that weekend. It was not clear whether steam was the exception rather than the rule though I’m sure an enquiry would reveal the answer.

Cermel Valley Railway 

Diesel haulage again. I’d contacted the railway for permission to see the locomotives and on arrival in time for the last train of the day we were told that we could see them in the shed when the train returned. The shed was empty when the train came back and the two steam locomotives were in the platform so that we could photograph them. The Hagans has just returned to service after a thorough overhaul. 

This is the spare locomotive CKD 4023/58.

To much grinding of teeth we were told that the Hagans was to be used the following day – a Friday – as it was a Bank Holiday which was unbeknown to us and our itinerary had no spare time in it. 

Cierny Balog system

As hinted at above we were at Cierny Balog on a Bank Holiday and it was heaving. The ex CFF locomotive, Reghin 604/85, was in steam but was sick so we didn’t manage steam on the 09.00 departure to Dobroc. The locomotive was better later on and we rode the other two routes. We had made prior arrangements to visit the shed and the workshops at Hronec and waited whilst the person who was to show us around finished the job he was working on.

Hronec, well beyond the limit of the day to day working on the line, is now hardly used by the railway and only one of their steam locomotives – 5 CKD 2611/48 – is there awaiting restoration plus a diesel. However there are two “road steam” (see later) and on accommodation bogies an even narrower gauge steam locomotive frame which I believe is 600mm BrDa 166/18 which is in the same ownership as the road steam.

The shed at Cierny Balog contained just Bp 1879/06 and CKD 2609/48.

In a private dwelling on the road to Vydrovo we spotted the rear of a steam locomotive but as no-one was at home the details remain unknown. 

Agrokomplex, Nitra (Not covered by James)

Advertised as the Slovak Agricultural Museum it covers a considerable area and has exhibition halls covering many aspects of agriculture in Slovakia and also seems to host conferences and other exhibitions.

It has a 760mm railway with two main routes, one from the exhibition halls to an exchange station where a circular route runs round a lake. It is publicised as running regularly but although we were there on a day that appeared to be one when running would be taking place that was not the case. So as arranged we were met at a “rear gate” and were guided around the areas of interest to us. The locomotives which we took to be the working ones had been moved from their shed to the station area so that we could photograph them 

and the last picture shows a locomotive of 650mm gauge which is plinthed nearby.

Note that there are a number of pictures of steam road engines here in a separate report on this site.