Payment problem solved
Some of you may have experienced a problem with the payment page with refusals to process a payment. This was a problem with the bank payment routine, which we chased down to the reference number which does need to be absolutely correct. However the problem should now be solved. Please email us if you experience any further problems, and apologies to those of you that have had problems.
May News
Wolsztyn Driver Dies
ZENON WITA 1959 -2010
Zenon Wita died of a heart attack at work on Friday 14th May. He was from a railway family: His father joined PKP in 1953, transferred to the footplate in 1956 and worked as a fireman for 34 years until he retired at the age of 60 in 1990, in the days when, as in the French system, being a fireman was a separate career, and did not lead necessarily to promotion to driver. Zenon also started his career with PKP in the workshops at Wolsztyn, in September 1978, and like his father transferred to the footplate initially as a fireman from the end of 1984. He qualified as a driver from 1st September 1997, a few days before the Wolsztyn Experience started.
In the beginning, before we were able to put names to the faces of our instructors Zenon Wita was distinguished by his dark Zapata style moustache. For the first few years of the Wolsztyn Experience, he normally worked with Gbiorczik (who reminded Howard of Ernest Bourgnine) in the freight link, and generally, although he had qualified as a driver, he seemed to prefer to continue firing while Gbiorczik drove. After Gbiorczik’s retirement and that of Henryk Biniak’s then partner, Zenon normally worked with Henryk Biniak, until Zenon’s declining state of health resulted in his being taken off the footplate in 2007 after which he was employed on light duties around the shed.
With the reduced number of drivers after the great early retirement clear out at the end of 1999, we the students had much more to do with the pairing of “Biniak and Wita” than previously. Wita was not a great star among the drivers and nor was he a natural instructor, but he stood up very well to a constant supply of new people who couldn’t speak his language and wanted to do the exciting bits of his job. He always maintained good humour and good relations on the footplate and about the shed after he’d returned to working there. My son – not a railway enthusiast - recalls a trip with Wita when they were exchanging and smoking each other’s cigarettes. My son said the great virtue of Wita’s cigarettes was that they were very short, but it was the thought that counted. Wita came to England in 2001 with his elder daughter, and stayed with Bob Gibbens in Derby. While here, he revealed a passion for motor cycles, so much so that on one occasion Zenon sat astride a motorcycle that he liked the look of, to Bob’s great alarm, as he anticipated trouble from the irate owner, but all was smoothed over.As well as a widow, Emilia, Zenon Wita left two dependent daughters, Agnieska (21) who is still a student and Joanna (12). Joanna has a heart defect and has had to undergo open heart surgery.
We shall all miss him. David Leyland
The Wolsztyn Experience are organising a collection for his family who are are facing some financial difficultues those of you who have had the privilage to have been on the footplate with Zenon may like to contribute to this fund. Cheques should be made out to the Wolsztyn Experience and endorsed on the back Zenon Wita fund.
Operational News May 27th
The last couple of weeks have had some loco problems, Ol59-59 has has superheat tubes fail and as its operational certificate finishes next month it has been decided to fast track a overhaul at Leszno, holding back the work on Ol49-69 which is currently having a major overhaul. Ol49-7 is having a tube changed and will be back in service next week. The continuing problem with the wheel bearing of the rear pony truck of Pt47-65 is causing concern but should be sorted shortly. The Pm36 is operational and will be hauling the Pirate on Saturday May 29th.
Operational News April 20th
The normal steam service will run in the week up to the parade with the exception of the Friday PM service. On the Saturday the day of the parade there will be no normal scheduled steam services they will resume on Sunday 2nd May.
The Pm is struggling to make the parade owing to a problem with the regulator sticking open, this occured on its steam trials at Leszno works. For parade timetable see Special Events for 2010 lower down on this page.
Operational News April 15th
The direct intervention by the Marshal's Office in Poznan has stopped the deadlock between the Regional Railways and PKP Cargo and will allow steam services to recommence from Thursday the 15th April.
This positive action by the Marshal's Office has been necessary as Regional Railways accounts have been blocked by the debt collector and therefore a direct intervention was the only way to reintroduce steam services onto the Poznan - Wolsztyn line.
The Wolsztyn Experience appreciates the positive approach of the Marshal's Office but still fails to understand why state-funded railway companies are in dispute with each other and the Regional
Railways find themselves unable to pay their employees fully this month and begs the question how good the Polish economy really is.
Operational News 25th February 2010
Modern Technology Fails – Steam Ploughs ON
The Wielkopolska area has had its worst winter since the Wolsztyn Experience has been operating there, with snowfalls accumulating to over 2 foot in this normally dry but cold part of Poland.
The new railcars have been unable to cope; firstly the freezing temperatures jamming the doors, the electronics suffering from ingested snow and the lightweight 4 wheeled units being unable to cope with more than 6 ins of snow above the rail level. The larger articulated units have even been lifted off the rails by the sheer volume of snow.
On many days the only trains running to time at Poznan were the steam services from Wolsztyn, even main line electrics were suffering primarily because accountants had decided it was not necessary to run track and overhead wire cleaning trains at night.
Not helping the situation is the sectorising of Polish railways where one company’s diesels could not be used to assist another’s even when alongside. All this has produced damming reports on Polish TV that the effects of privatisation and modernisation have not been thought through.
Specific incidents include the 11 hours delay to the 1713 Poznan steam to Wolsztyn on Saturday 26th January when the line was blocked by the raised front bogie of a railcar unit which was stuck firmly in a snow drift, blocking the single line track. It took all night to manually dig it out whereupon the steam arrived at Wolsztyn at 0615 on the Sunday morning, was immediately serviced, turned and took out the 0511 2 hours late. The steam service was back on time by the Sunday evening run.
Two weeks earlier the 1712 had also been delayed for 41/2 hours by the complete heating failure of the computerised point system at Poznan. With the old points drivers were able to assist their movement manually which has been forbidden with the new Siemens system in case it upsets the complicated electronic technology.
On the night of 12/13th February further heavy snowfalls resulted in regional railways moving the steam hauled service to the 0428 first train of the day to ensure arrival and to clear the line for later trains.
Pt47-65 & Ol49/7 have done the bulk of the work through this period of severe weather and when not delayed by technology problems and modern traction have successfully maintained the schedules ploughing through snow drifts up to 4 foot.
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Pt47-65 departs from Granowo Nowotomyskie with a daily timetabled service for Poznan. The Pt has collected snow all over it's front from hitting the 4ft drifts in the cuttings 30.01.2010 Zbigniew Graczyk |
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Pt47-65 preparing to leave Grodzisk Wlkp. with the timetabled Poznan - Wolsztyn working on Friday 05.06.2010 Marek Ciesielski |
On Feb 6th the Wolsztyn Experience with TPWP (friends of Wolsztyn steam shed) ran a special to Lagof for Railtrail from the UK and for Polish enthusiasts. The line which is only used in summer for opencast coal trains had to be cleared by snowplough and the cost of this was covered by Railtrail and the Wolsztyn Experience. The Ol provided run pasts for the group at various locations; unfortunately a Polish lady enthusiast broke her leg when she slipped climbing down an embankment.
On Feb 7th a narrow gauge special was run at Gniezno for Railtrail; using the Wolsztyn Experience PX48 0-8-0 the track was cleared by a diesel propelled snowplough the day before and rails on road crossings were manually cleared of compacted ice, the cost again being covered by WE & Railtrail. The clearance was as far as Niechanowo some 10 Km. On the day runpasts were with and without the snow plough.
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Ol49-7 returning from Sieniawa Lubuska with the TPWP/WE/Railtrail charter crosses the magnificent Lagow viaduct. 06.02.2010 Marek Ciesielski |
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Px48-1919 - with snowplough leading heads a photo charter for Railtrail on the Gniezno narrow gauge line in a winter wonderland . 07.02.2010 Marek Ciesielski |
Scheduled Steam Services In Wolsztyn - Secure for 2010
Towards the end of November 2009 a statement from one Polish Councillor caused consternation amongst the enthusiast world; his view was that Wolsztyn Depot should become a museum with occasional steam specials and that the funding for the steam service would be better spent on promoting tourism in Wielkopolska.
Enthusiasts worldwide replied to Polish Regional Government, Polish National Government and to the Polish Tourist board reiterating that if that happened they would no longer be visiting Poland and that it was the fact the Wolsztyn has the last daily steam commuter service in the world that was the attraction.
The Wielkopolska Regional Government later announced that the twice-daily scheduled steam services will continue for 2010 whilst cost cutting and increasing revenue was looked into.
The Wolsztyn Experience asks all enthusiasts traveling to Wolsztyn to purchase as many return tickets as possible on the service even if their main aim is lineside photography as this increases the income to Wielkopolska Regional Government.
We also ask those who feel passionate about this service and have ideas that would increase income to send their views to Julian Worth at jkworth AT hotmail.com (substitute @ for AT) who will be collating them with the aim of presenting a report to the Polish Tourist Board.
Special Trains for 2010 - The following have been confirmed
The Blue’s Express
July 17th Poznan to Zakrzewo for music festival bookings through PKP Intercity
Poznan 1330 Zakrzewo 1900 all timings approx
On route blues bands playing at Poznan Glowny, Chodziez, Pila
Glowna, Krajenka and Zlotow stations.
Then overnight blues concert by a lake.
Return working will leave Zakrzewo at 4.30 and arrive at
Poznan at about 8.00.
Bar coach available as well as a rolling blues
concert in the train's luggage van. More info about the bands will be
available at http://www.bluesexpress.pl/ (please note, this is an
independent site and we have no information other than about the
train). Thoroughly recommended for dedicated Blues Brothers!
Special to Szczecin
June 12th Poznan to Szczecin
A chance to see the tall ships. Hauled by Pm36-2 the train departs Poznan 0745 arriving at
Szczecin at 1210 The return departure is at 1600 arriving back at Poznan at 2020.
The adult ticket cost is 80PLN Tickets from PKP booking offices.
The Pirate
The Pirate the annual long distance steam service from Poznan to the Baltic Coast (Kolobrzeg) will run again this year on Saturday May 29th . Pm36-2 is expected to haul the service as it’s long awaited return from works is scheduled for the May Day parade. The train gives riders 534 Km of steam at normal Polish ticket costs. Early start from Poznan and late return, timings will be posted when confirmed,. Tickets through PKP booking office.
Special Events for 2010
Standard Gauge - The May Day Parade
Visiting Locos
1 From Czech Republic 0-6-0T 313.432
2 From Hungary 4-4-4 stramlined tank 242.001
3 From Germany Cottbus 4-6-2 01 509
4 From Germany Berlin 2-10-0 52 8177
5 From Poland Chabowka 2-10-0 Ty2-953, 2-8-2T Tkt48-191 & 2-6-2 Ol12-7
6 From Wolsztyn 4-6-2 Pm36-2, 2-8-0 Tr5-65, 2-8-2 Pt47-65 & 2-6-2's Ol49-7 & 59
Timetable of events
0740 special to Stefanowo with Tkt48-191 - tickets from PKP Cargo
0845 arrival of returning special from Stefanowo
0917 special to Nowa Wies Mochy with Ty2-953 - tickets from PKP Cargo
1010 arrival of returning special from Nowa Wies Mochy
1040 arrival of Pm36-2 from Poznan with VIP special. 1145 arrival of Ol49-7 & 59 from Wroclaw with PKP Intercity special -- tickets from PKP ticket offices.
1156 arrival of 01 509 from Cottbus run by LDC Cottbus 1212 arrival of 52 8177 from Berlin & Cottbus run by Traditionsug Berlin & Rennsteigbahn.
1214 arrival of Pt47-65 from Poznan 0945 & Leszno 1115 - tickets from PKP ticket offices.
1300 - 1330 Official opening of parade which runs from 1330 - 1500
1415 departure of 01509 to Leszno for turning.
1605 special to Stefanowo with 242.001 - tickets from PKP Cargo
1630 departure of 52 8177 to Cottbus & Berlin
1655 arrival of returning special from Stefanowo
1736 departure of VIP special to Poznan with Pt47-65
1758 departure of 01 509 to Cottbus
1800 departure of Pm36-2 to Poznan - tickets from PKP booking offices.
1800 departure of Ol49-7 to Wroclaw EP07 from Leszno onwards.
Narrow Gauge
2010 is the 110th anniversary for the Smigiel Line.
Celebrations will take place on September 17-19th
Visiting steam locomotives from Poland and the
Czech Republic.
Vintage bus shuttles. Intensive steam/ diesel service
on Poland's last passenger/ freight operational narrow-gauge railway.
Why not make the event even more attractive if you own / can think of
somebody who owns a low loader and would bring a British loco (for cost
compensation) to take part in the gathering!
Track bed re-building
The dates of the proposed rebuilding of the track bed from Wolsztyn to Poznan keeps changing firstly proposed July 2010 then put back to 2010 and now looks like 2010 afterall. When firm dates are known details and train times will be posted.
The services that will operate during track bed rebuilding will be two return Wolsztyn - Leszno trains a day. However with PLK committed to upgrading lines required for the 2012 European Cup the likelihood is that work will not start until then.
