Wolsztyn and Vicinity

The small town of Wolsztyn in the Wielkopolska region southwest of Poznan is the home of the last remaining regularly-scheduled steam trains in Europe today. Maintained by the PKP as a living museum, the Wolsztyn roundhouse each morning lets loose several steam locomotives to run on the area's passenger and freight trains.

	A number of steam-powered freight trains can still be found on the lines radiating from the museum depot at Wolsztyn. Here, the depot's Ty45 leads a mixed train (with a rider coach for enthusiasts) to Konotop. (September 20, 1993)
	On the next morning, the Wolsztyn Pt47, normally an express passenger engine, was pressed into freight service. Here the train arrives at Tuchorza, passing the home signal to enter the station. (September 21, 1993)
	The tank was was spotted on a side track, and the train then returned to Wolsztyn. (September 21, 1993)
	A passenger train to Leszno departs from Wolsztyn, showing that not all trains through this town are steam-hauled. This is a typical Polish passenger train from a secondary line&emdash;double-deck coaches and an SP-45 locomotive. (September 20, 1993)
	A local train from Poznan was pulled by an SU-46 class locomotive in the summer of '93. Since then, most Poznan trains have been made steam-hauled! (September 20, 1993)
	The LKR streamliners were another non-steam sight at Wolsztyn in 1993. Unfortunately, this railroad has since stopped operating (see below for more pictures and information on the LKR). (September 20, 1993)
	I think the railway station at Rakoniewice, located on the Poznan-Wolsztyn line, is one of the prettiest in Poland. And to make the situation even better, it is still served by several steam trains each day! In this photo, the German-designed station building, with all its gingerbread trim, is lit up as nighttime approaches. (July 1995)
	The last train of the night to Wolsztyn is ready to depart from Rakoniewice at 10:15 p.m. The double-deck coaches are the norm for passenger trains on this line. (July 1995)
	The Lubuska Kolej Regionalna (LKR), was established in 1993 to operate several cast-off PKP lines in the Wolsztyn and Zielona Gora areas. Funded by the local government, this "short line" didn't last out the year. Operations were conducted with several of these streamlined units donated by the Danish State Railways (DSB), seen at Sulechow. (September 21, 1993)
	The LKR's streamliners were a bit out of place limping down a branch line at 30 km/hr. The crew had plenty of time to look down the track and reflect on the state of the railway. (September 21, 1993)
	An evening Wolsztyn-Poznan train is led making good time as it nears the town of Rostarzewo. Scenes like this remain an everyday sight on this line. (July 7, 1995)
	The early-morning quiet in the small village of Tuchorza, is broken by the arrival of an Ol49 at the head of a Zbaszynek-Wolsztyn local. The train will have no more stops before Wolsztyn. (July 7, 1995)
	The roundhouse at Wolsztyn, to the southwest of Poznan. This is the last area of the country where you can see standard-gauge locomotives in daily servce on both passenger and freight trains.
	A Tkt48 tank engine switches cars in the freight yard at Wolsztyn. Steam-powered freight trains depart from Wolsztyn on three different lines.
	A PKP SP-45 passenger locomotive awaits a call to duty in the Wolsztyn station. These engines are used on many secondary main lines that have not been electrified.