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When I found out that Thursday, November 11 was celebrated as Independence Day in Poland-and hence I would have no classes-I decided to plan a little trip around the Bydgoszcz area to travel on some secondary lines. With most of these lines under the threat of the axe due to the PKP's financial situation, I felt a trip sooner rather than later was in order.
My plan was to travel in a circular fashion, starting at Bydgoszcz, and travelling via Naklo nad Notecia, Chojnice, Laskowice Pomorskie, Grudziaz, and Chelmza before arriving back in Bydgoszcz. The plan changed later, but that was my intention in the morning as I left my apartment in Fordon and travelled by bus to the main railway station in Bydgoszcz. (All the busses and trams has little Polish flags attached to the front in honor of the day!)
Train #5835-Bydgoszcz Glowna to Naklo nad Notecia: Bydgoszcz is a large station, but there weren't many people travelling today, so I was able to quickly buy my ticket and find my way to the platform. The train rolls in a few minutes before the 0750 departure time. It is comprised of two EN-57 electric multiple units. These three-car trains are ubiquitous on most local trains travelling on electrified lines. I climb on, find a seat, and we start rolling at the same moment the platform clock ticks over to 0750! It's a cold morning, and there is frost on the ties as we roll westward out of Bydgoszcz. It's a short trip of just 27 km, including several station stops in little villages along the way. Arrival in Naklo is on time at 0819.
Train #2223-Naklo nad Notecia to Chojnice: My connecting train to Chojnice is waiting across the platform, and I'm surprised to find it is comprised of a two-unit set of SA-121-class diesel railcars. Although I have seen these cars in the past, I'd never had the opportunity to ride on them. I climb on the back car and find it quite full, so I walk through to the front car, where there are few riders. The door to the driver's compartment is open, so I grab the front seat in the car! This is great!
We depart on time at 0823, and quickly curve away from the electrified line heading north towards Chojnice. I quick discover why there are so many seats available: the heat on this car isn't working! On a day when the temperatures are just above freezing the cold sets in quickly, but being a true rail enthusiast, I maintain my position!
Just out of Naklo I spot a narrow gauge line coming in from our left and then disappearing to our right. You can see where the diamond crossing with the standard guage line was removed.
The cab door is open because there are three people crowded into the cab. The two others are also enthusiasts, and this will allow for a few photo "delays" along the way (I hesitate to call them photo stops, due to the fact that we barely stopped!) The line north from Naklo is one of those secondary lines that the PKP dearly wants to stop operating. We hold to a 50 km/hour speed and even at this, we are bouncing around due to deteriorating track. There is no evidence of freight traffic at any of the stations on the first part of the line, and although there are a few passengers at each station, they can all be easily handled in the back half of the railcar set.
At Mrocia, we pull into the siding to pass a southbound train from Chojnice. It is led by diesel SP42-242. The station, as it is used for meeting trains, is manned and equipped with semaphore signals. Several other stations along the way are similarly-equiped.
Wiecbork is a large station that was the junction with line from Zlotow to Terespol Pomorski. That line is closed to passenger traffic now (and freight also?), and the only passenger service is on our line. There must be no meets here now, as the two signal towers are closed and all the semaphore blades have been dropped down to indicate they are out of service. We clatter through a number of double slip switches at the end of the complex of tracks and continue towards Chojnice.
The track improves north of Wiecbork, and we are up to 60 km/hour. There are freight cars in several sidings along the way. The sun peeks out for a moment before we arrive in Chojnice on time at 1006, having travelled 75 km. The crowd disperses, the railcars head off to the shop, and I go into the station to find some hot coffee!
Train #3328-Chojnice to Laskowice Pomorskie: I walk around the station a bit. Before the Second World War, this was the border station for traffic between Germany and Poland. There is quite a large freight yard and a number of platforms. You can still travel out of here in six directions! Electric wires never made it here, so everything is diesel-hauled. Hungarian SN-61 class diesel railcars found a home here, and now the SA-121's have replaced them. A large Russian ST-44 is tied on a long freight in the yard, waiting to depart eastward.
As departure time arrives, there is no train in the platform. A few minutes later, a set of SA-121's is visible approaching from the shop. It is the same set I rode up from Naklo! I board, and am surprised to find the heat is working. Great!
We depart at 1045, three minutes late. This line is in better condition, and we are moving right along. We stop at tidy little stations. The conductor is interested in my camera, and we have a little conversation. He sends his greetings to all the railroad workers in the U.S.! We quickly make up our time. As we move down the line, though, I notice that the heat has disappeared. By the time we reach Wierzchucin, it is completely gone. The line is running through forests much of the time. Some stops consist of just a platform and a shelter. Passengers get off and disappear into the forest. Where are they going? We leave Leosia, the last stop before Laskowice, three minutes early. I hope there weren't any passengers running to make the train! Just before Laskowice, we pull alongside the electrified Poznan/Bydgoszcz/Gdansk main line. We pull into the platform on time at 1216, another 71 km under my belt!
I have a few minutes before my train to Grudziaz, so I go into the station restaurant for some hot soup. I see that the china is marked "Restauracja Dworcowa Laskowice" (Station Restaurant Laskowice). I guess this would qualify as railroad china for my collection? I'll have to come back and negotiate a deal sometime!
Train #19028-Laskowice Pomorskie to Grudziaz: Pulled by SP42 #143, this is my first steam-heated train of the day. The double-deck carriages are toasty-warm as I settle in for the trip. As I wait for departure, there are local trains waiting to go down three different secondary lines. On the main line, a northbound and a southbound local arrive and depart. Passengers migrate to the local trains, and then they also depart. We are off at 1240 for the 22 km run to Grudziaz. It's a quick ride, and before I know it we are crossing the Wisla (Vistula) River into Grudziaz.
Train #55040-Grudziaz to Chelmza: Ooops! A note pencilled onto the timetable poster on the wall at Grudziaz announces that this train does not run on holidays. Apparently this is a change since the national timetable was printed. There is another train two hours later, but it will be getting dark by then. I wander around the station area in Grudziaz a bit, photography a tram, then decide to backtrack a bit and just return to Bydgoszcz.
Train #1412-Grudziaz to Laskowice Pomorskie: As I climb up to the platform, I notice the train is oozing steam from under each car. What a sight! I start shooting, and the conductor starts yelling at me. He says I'm not allowed to take pictures. Where do they find these people? I switch into English-only mode and just keep shooting away. I then smile and ask him if this is the train to Laskowice, and climb on board!
We cover the route back to Laskowice in short order and pull into the platform I'd left just a short while ago. I spot the headlight of a southbound freight to the north, so a quick dash through the underground tunnel allows me to grab a shot of an ET-22 roaring through the station.
Train #54102-Laskowice Pomorskie to Bydgoszcz Glowna: This will be my only "fast" train of the day. I decide to upgrade my ticket so that I may be back in Bydgozcz an hour sooner than waiting for a local train. Light is fading quickly, and there wouldn't be many opportunities for photography soon. (And besides, the two local railway policemen in their combat fatigues with their German shepard are starting to eye me suspiciously...) The train pulls into the station on time 1509, led by electric EU07-480. This is a Gdynia to Katowice service, but I will leave it just 52 km later at Bydgoszcz. I settle into a comfortable compartment and organize my notes from the day's events. Arrival in Bydgoszcz is on time at 1541, and I have just enough light left to shoot a photo of the train as it awaits a departure signal.
So, 7 hours and 51 minutes after departing, I am back home. I have travelled 269 km. My tickets add up 19.01 Polish zloty, which converts to approximately $4.42US. (This is at half price, a rate which I get because I work as a teacher.) It's not a bad way to spend the day; I hope that I will have a chance to do it again, if service cuts can be avoided.
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Arriving at the main railway station in Bydgoszcz. |
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SA-121 railcar at Naklo, ready to depart for Chojnice. |
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The approach signal to Mrocia, on the way to Chojnice. |
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SA121's wait to meet a southbound train at Mrocia. |
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The southbound train from Chojnice, pulled by SP42-242. |
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We stopped briefly at Wiecbork. |
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The driver at the controls of the SA121. |
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The train stopped for a moment at Sepolno Kr. |
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Our conductor confers with the Sepolno Kr. station master (with the red hat). |
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The interior of the SA121's is spartan. |
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A passenger is waiting at a rural station. |
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The SA121 upon arrival in Chojnice. |
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Grafitti-covered coaches at Chojnice. |
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There are still several retired steam locomotives sitting around the Chojnice yard. |
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The engine house at Chojnice hosted a couple of passenger engines. |
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The SA121 upon arrival at Laskowice, with the train to Grudziaz in the background. |
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The train to Grudziaz was carrying quite a crowd, including a number of schoolchildren. |
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SP42-143 waits to be uncoupled from the train. |
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A Grudziaz tram, flying Polish flags to celebrate the holiday! |
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My train from Grudziaz back to Laskowice. Note the conductor on the platform, getting ready to yell at me! |
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The same train, after arriving back in Laskowice. |
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A southbound freight on the main line with ET-22-457. |
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The next train to Grudziaz waits, with steam leaking from under the car. |
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The Gdynia-Katowice fast train pulls in, with EU07-480 leading. This will be my train to Bydgoszcz. |
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EU07-480 awaits the signal to depart on the next leg of its journey. |
Please visit my Polish Train Page for more photographs of Polish railways.
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