28th Feb - 4th March 2012 Poland

ET41-037A leads its sister unit into Krzys from the north. 04.03.2012.

Prezwozy Regionale SM42-523 is stabled
for the night at Poznan. 01.03.2012

Following our first enjoyable and successful trip to Poland in 2011 James and James headed back to Poland to attempt to tick off the same aims that we didn't achieve the previous year - some snow, and EU06's. We were not successful on either of these fronts and the weather was far from the bright winter sunshine we had experienced previously!                                                                                  Having based ourselves in Katowice the previous year this time we would be staying in the east of the country based in Wroclaw and Poznan.

Tuesday 28th February 2012:

We had arrived into Wroclaw late afternoon the previous day and after a quick visit to the station and a fairly confusing tram ride (it's not easy when you have no map and don't know where each route goes!) made our way to the hotel. 

ET22-282 stands atop a line of 10 other classmates at
Legnica on a wet 28th February 2012. 

Tuesday dawned cold and murky but not cold enough that the murk turned white as we had perhaps hoped! Today was a two stop affair as we headed towards the German border. The first of these stations was Legnica, a large station with lots of promise and presence with its sizeable overall roof. The station was typical of the run-down look of many Polish stations at the time, particularly in the wet weather with water pouring from many places it probably shouldn't' have been. 

You go abroad but you can't avoid them! EWS
66153 working for DB Cargo Rail Polska. 28/02/2012.

Despite many tracks and even bumping into a Polish enthusiast the traffic here was sparse. In the few hours we spent at Legnica we saw just a couple of loco movements but did at least have some shelter from the elements.                                                                                              The most interesting feature here was a long line of mostly (if not all) stored ET22's alongside the station. 

SU46-011 in PKP Cargo colours has attached to the front of EC248 'Wawel' from Wroclaw to Hamburg as it prepares to take the diesel line via Forst.

By the time of our train to the next location of Wegliniec we were more than happy to be on the move. The moment we stepped off the train we were greeted by a familiar sight - an EWS class 66 in the shape of 66153 light engine working for DB Cargo Rail Polska, still looking very much like we were used to as an EWS loco in the UK. 

Also attracting our attention was an attractive red and white liveried 'Ludmilla' 232-105 belonging to East West Railways. The loco had it's lights on and a driver in the cab so we settled into a position ahead of it waiting for it to depart. 

An incredible line up of traction in the inclement weather! Left to right SU46-048, 232-105 (East West Railways), ST43-137, SM42-1251, 3E-007 (PTK ET21), SU46-011.

ST43-137 crawls out of the yard at Wegliniec.

One of the highlights of our trip to Wegliniec was always going to be the passage of the daily EuroCity 248/9 'Wawel' on it's trip between Hamburg and Wroclaw which was, at the time, booked to take the diesel line across the border via Forst. The train arrived from Germany behind SU46-011 and continued forward into Poland with an EP09. The German bound train did the opposite arriving with electric traction and then being taken forward with the same SU46. 

Green pairing ST43-238 and SU46-014 have just attached
to a train in the yard at Wegliniec to head towards Germany.
Conditions were getting very bleak and the light was now
fading fast as we waited for our train back to warmth and dry. 

This activity together with a great many interesting 'older' freight locos distracted us sufficiently from the rain which was the only thing preventing this from being an absolutely mega day!                                                                                                                            Eventually however after several hours the light started to fade and our clothes began to soak through- and 232-105 which we had been observing since arriving was still sitting with its lights on and driver in the cab looking just as ready depart as when we had arrived! With a DMU due back to Wroclaw it was time for us to make our escape, heading into the relative shelter of the leaky station canopy we looked back at the rain we had been standing in. We must have been mad!

Wednesday 1st March 2012:

EU07-174 at Wroclaw Mikolajow brining in our train  to Poznan and beyond.

ET22-1162 passes Wroclaw Slotysowice 1.3.2012

This morning it was time to explore some more local spots within Wroclaw. Our first location was Wroclaw Slotysowice which disappointed with only a couple of freight trains, a green ET22, a LOTOS Traxx and an SM31- a class of loco I had not previously seen up close that did at least make it worth the visit. Trackwork appeared to be taking place here which may have limited further traffic.                                                                  

SM31-168 shunting at Wroclaw Slotysowice 1.3.2012

After seeing significantly less freight than we had hoped it was time to drop back to Wroclaw Mikolajow to pick up a nice green EU07-174 (before it was a 'heritage repaint') to transfer us to Poznan. Unfortunately this was a painfully slow journey due to upgrade works on the line via Leszno which saw single line working in force for large chunks of the journey with very slow line speeds as a result.

ET22-729 prepares to depart Poznan with a Prezwozy
Regionale service towards Leszno. 03.03.2012

After checking into our accommodation we came back to the station with the aim of taking a short ride on the evening steam departure run as part of the Wolsztyn Experience which at the time had two daily trains between Wolsztyn and Poznan. We arrived to find Ol49-59 in charge of the train, remarkably billed as Europe's last scheduled steam operation. Soon we got chatting to the English guests who were 'footplating' on the loco, and then to the Polish loco crew. They asked if we were travelling, which of course we were, and it soon became apparent that in exchange for some zloty they would let us ride in the cab of the loco. After initially dismissing the idea we did the maths. The 50 zloty being asked was less than £10 and riding in the cab of the massive Ol49 was certainly going to be more exciting than being on the cushions! 

Ol49-59 at Poznan on 1st March 2012, steam leaking abundantly as it prepares to work the evening train to Wolsztyn.

Quickly we worked out how far we could go down the branch to Wolsztyn and still get back and then settled down to enjoy the spectacle of mainline steam in the dark of the cool Polish spring night. The knowledge of the crews became immediately apparent, being able to tell just from the lie of the track their exact location and breaking points.                                                                                                                                                                      We were sad to leave the crew when we arrived at the tiny halt of Tloki (even more so when we realised just how tiny and remote this stop was!) and listened to the loco depart into the distance. We had a short wait for our vastly inferior DMU back to Poznan, but what an experience the evening had turned out to be. Probably the best 50 zloty I had ever spent!

Green machine ET22-099 at Poznan with a late night regional service. 01.03.2012.

Thursday 2nd March 2012:

EN57-714rb and ET22-748 in a very traditional scene at Inowroclaw. 02.03.2012. 

EU07-215 Poznan 3.03.2012

After a few photos around the station in Poznan in the morning, including the returning steam service it was time for another excursion today- but first a bit of an issue. James and I had agreed which train to meet on for our transfer to Inowroclaw, but with reduced information around the station due to re-building I had some difficulty finding either him or the train- I ended up getting on the train hoping to find him on board. I quickly realised that he wasn't. Where had we gone wrong? Well- I had got on the right train... just in the wrong direction! My train had already called at Inowroclaw and was now heading down towards Leszno! 

I bailed off at the first stop, Koscian, and had to wait a little while for a train that would take me back to Poznan where I could then try again to reach Inowroclaw! At least there was a tiny bit of company at Koscian- ST43-371 was stabled in the yard and was duely photographed. 

ST43-371 in the yard at Koscian. 02.03.2012.

It was certainly a little later than planned when I arrived into Inowroclaw behind ET22-748. Unfortunately I had missed an original PKP ST44 (I am still yet to see one working in any guise for PKP) and after another disappointing session with only a couple of trains seen it was time to continue our journey on to our final destination for the day; Bydgoszcz. 

Freshly overhauled M62-7038 is shunted out of the works at Bydgoszcz by shunter SM42-261 owned by PESA. 02.03.2012

A line up of locos within the PESA works at
Bydgoszcz with ST45-011, ST44-1242 and
M62-1708 for Rail Pokska taking their pole
positions.02.03.2012

As well as the possibility to see freight, and the disappointment that once again very little turned up, Bydgoszcz is also home to the lage PESA railway works. As well as constructing DMU's of questionable quality the works here also specialises in overhauling locos including many older diesels for both PKP and private operators- what is even better is that a lot of the action can be seen through the fence from the station platform. The only problem here is the fence- so being inquisitive we wandered down to the rail gates and took some photos through the holes in the fence which came out much better. To our surprise the gates opened, and a few snaps later a member of staff appeared. He spoke only Polish but beckoned us in... were we really going to get a look inside the loco works!?

Ol49-59 at Poznan 02.03.2012.

No. Was the definitive answer. It turned out that PESA were not keen at all on us taking photos through their fence and after being invited into their office the strict instruction from an English speaking staff member was that we must delete our pictures and they would watch us doing it. Not having been in the situation before I didn't have a lot of choice and had not prepared for this- maybe it is a good thing now that I can't quite remember what was on the card from the works before the delete button was pressed. 

A bit scarred from the experience we made the best of what we could from the platform. Perhaps for operational reasons, or perhaps because they felt sorry for us (I strongly suspect the former) the shunters then proceeded to shunt around a good collection of the locos in the yard outside the works, parading them out of the gate in front of us, and our cameras, which of course were no problem if they stayed on the platform. Among the treasures were a number of M62's, German 'Ludmillas' and Polish ST48, ST43 and ST45 locos freshly overhauled into their new freight format from SU45's. 

Friday 3rd March 2012:

Pol Meidz Trans M62-1199 powers through Poznan Staroleka. 03.03.2012.

Konstal 105Na trams in service
outside Poznan station. 03.03.2012

Our final full day in Poland saw us spending more time in and around Poznan. After starting again on the main station we once again set off in pursuit of freight, knowing that we would not see any through the main station. We made the trip by tram to the station at Poznan Staroleka, another beautifully run down small Polish station to the south of the city. 

No rewards for guessing the location here as EN57-1769rb makes its call. 03.03.2012

ET22-1164 passes Staroleka light engine. 03.03.2012.

It didn't take long for us to realise that this had been a good decision. Finally we started to see some freight traffic at the sort of levels we had hoped for. What made it even better was warning of trains coming from the north. First the level crossing at the end of the platform would activate, followed by the loud rumble which indicated a freight train crossing the large viaduct immediately before the station. Only as the train hit the level crossing and curved into the station would we see what our cameras had heading towards them. 

The highlight of our time here was a particularly deep rumble which heralded the arrival of Pol-Miedz-Trans M62-1199. We had already seen one of their re-engined M62's which was pleasing in itself, but this time it was the smokey real-deal! 

As we left to head back to the main station something so far unknown on the trip also manifested - some sunlight!

Finally some sunshine! SU45-079 in Przeworzy Regionale colours waits to head its peak hour service to Leszno. 03.03.2012

SP32-202 waits outside the station at Poznan to
form the Fridays only train to Gorzow. 03.03.2012.

Back at Poznan Glowny it was time to enjoy some passenger diesels, very much towards the end of their decline in Poland. By this time, there was just one booked diesel departure on a weekday, the 15:34 Poznan - Leszno with an additional Fridays only service to Gorzow at 16:27. One of my main aims for the trip had been to see and ride behind an SU45, a very uniquely Polish diesel powered by a Fiat licenced engine. Once a common sight right across Poland's regional routes there were just a handful in traffic by this time and the runs out of Poznan were the best bet to score one, both trains being booked for SU45 haulage. 

The usual hopes of an EU06 manifest as our first freight at
Poznan Staroleka appears behind green EU07-195. 03.03.2012

The first of the two trains, the Fridays only Gorzow produced an SP32, in itself not easy to score and a tempting choice for a ride, but in the end I stuck to my guns and took SU45-079 in its attractive and unique red Prezworzy Regionale livery on the Leszno train. The stock was one of the now very rare articulated double decker sets, and with a bit of effort it was just about possible to get a window open enough to enjoy the sounds of the loco.

Saturday 4th March 2012:

ET22-017 pauses at Krzyz with a regional service to Szczecin Glowny. 04.03.2012

 

EP07-395 with a full IC rake of coaches
has arrived into Szczecin Glowny. 04.03.2012.

The final day of the trip dawned sunny! This meant another dash to the station in an attempt to re-take all the cloudy pictures we had from the rest of the week! 

Ol49-59 had also been cleaned and now looked particularly shiny in the sunshine. It was still early morning when James and I parted ways- he was booked on the direct flight back to London from Poznan which left around midday, while I had elected to take a more circuitous route home with an evening flight from Berlin, and there was a particular objective on the way.

EC179 is powered by 232-379 on the approach to Szczecin Glowny. 04.03.2012

EP08-010 Szczecin Glowny. 04.03.2012.

My journey out of Poznan began with ET22-017, the lowest number I had seen on the trip. This took me to Krzys where I had an hour or so to enjoy the sunshine before dropping back onto another green machine, EP07-395 to continue on to Szczecin Glowny. The reason for coming here was to get a ride with a DB 232 'Ludmilla' while I still could- by this time they had just one daily return passenger working, the final section of EC178/179 'Berliner' from Prague to Szczecin which was worked by the diesel for the final few miles across the German border from Angermunde into Poland. 

There was time to wander round, photograph a few trams and get into position for the inbound working which produced 232-379. All that was left now was to board the EC and get my Ludmilla in the book. Later in the year the train would be cut back to Berlin and bring the end to regular 232 workings in Germany. 

144-004 arrives into Angermunde with an RE3 service. 155-031 and 143-124 lead lines of former East German electrics in the yard. 04.03.2012.

186-135 has charge of the overnight train to
Kiev ready depart Berlin Hbf. 04.03.2012.

I wouldn't have much time in Germany so while the loco was changing at Angermunde I opted to connect onto a loco hauled regional service into Berlin rather than wait for the class 101 to take EC178 forward. 

In Berlin there was just time to take in the impressive Hbh with its dual level tracks before I had to think about getting to the airport. By this time the new airport at Berlin Brandemburg should have been in full operation, but delays which would continue to plague it for many years meant that the old airports at Tegal and Schonefeld were still in operation. With it's rail connection I opted for Schonefeld, I had assumed I would not depart from it's tarmac again- little did I know! 

114-018 stands at Berlin Schonefeld Flughaven. 04.03.2012.

Conclusions:

232-397 ready to depart from Szczecin for
Prague on EC178. 04.03.2012.

Another enjoyable trip to Poland when it was easy to find locos in the old liveries and there were still a number of older diesels around, at least if you looked in the right places! This winter we were blessed with neither the snow we dreamed of or the great light we had experienced the previous year (or the EU06's for that matter!) and this would be my last winter trip to Poland for some time. I would next cross the country just a few months later on my Trans-Siberian trip, by which time it was Summer and the gloomy Poland I knew looked an entirely different place.

Ol49-59 calls at Lubon on the outskirts of Poznan
with the morning service to Wolsztyn. 03.03.2012

By the time of my next serious 'railway' trip to Poland the blue livery of PKP Cargo had truly taken hold, the days of ET22's on passenger were behind and even some of the loco hauled long distance trains had succumbed to units.                                                                               Finishing the trip with the German 232 was a real highlight, perhaps in a large part because the weather had finally turned good! Despite the grey, a great trip all in all and my last truly visiting the Poland of old.

The desolate and dilapidated station at Wegliniec on a cold winters day.

Poland 23-29th September 2020

Pt47-65 pauses for the DMU to Wolsztyn to cross it at Nova Wies Mochy while working the 05:30 Wolsztyn - Leszno. 25.09.2020

CTL's 182 090 passes Mysłowice in a patch of 
good light with a coal train. 29.09.2020

Introduction:

A very short notice trip to Poland (Flights booked about 24 hours before!)- I’m convinced that the best way to beat the pandemic travel lottery is to book very last minute checking that your country is still on the ‘good’ list!

Two of my friends had landed themselves a week on the Wolsztyn experience, and while I could not join for the whole week due to work commitments a crazy plan had hatched in my head to fly out after work on the Wednesday for a few days in Poland, including joining them at Wolsztyn for steam and beers. With them flying home on the Sunday it wouldn’t be much of a trip, so a few days were tagged on the end for some freight photography in Silesia, somewhere I had not visited since 2011.

EP07 1015 approaches Leszno heading towards Wrocław. 25.09.2020

 

PT47-65 prior to departure to Poznan. 26.09.2020

Wednesday 23^rd September:

Today's plan was simply to get to Poland. Flying with Wizz from Luton is never ideal, however I numbed the pain by discovering a nice HST move with 43073 leading the 18:04 St Pancras to Leeds, one of very few chances to reach the airport with a proper train!

The flight was around 30 minutes late and once in Poland it was almost Thursday- the only task was to get to my accommodation the Ibis Budget on the outskirts of Wrocław. Fortunately quick disembarkation and luggage got me in a taxi and I was in my hotel room only 30 minutes after the flight arrived.

ET22 1162 passes Myslowice with covered steel carriers. 29.09.2020

 

DB 189 017 approaches Wrocław Stadion. 24.09.20

Thursday 24^th September:

Aware that the weather forecast for my week was getting worse every time I checked it I really needed to make the most of this day, as it could be my last dry one for the whole trip!

The Covid breakfast offer at the hotel was not appealing so I headed straight out to find a lineside spot near to Wrocław Stadion station on the line to Zielina Gora. Unfortunately my first freight, and only one in the right direction was hauled by DB 189 017- I hadn’t come here to see modern German electrics! A couple more freights passed in the opposite direction with more Polish traction, EU07 199 and EU07 180 double heading a freight for Cargonuit with ET22 903 in pursuit.

EU07 199 and EU07 180 at Wrocław Stadion. 24.09.20

My next stop was Wroclaw Zerniki on the line towards Legnica. Again the trains weren’t especially kind with the only freight in the ‘right’ direction being hauled by DB’s plain white Vectron 193 560. In the other direction was Lotos Skoda 181 071 with an oil train. Fortunately the only passenger had been going the ‘right’ way, towards Wrocław so that did provide some compensation.

My next target was to head to the area around Wrocław Brochów depot, first traveling through the beautifully restored Wrocław Głowny. Here there was a surprise in a meeting with one of the new PKP Intercity ‘Griffin’ locos, EU160 024 built by Newag, working a TLK service.

EP07 435 passes through Wrocław Zerniki 24.09.2020

New PKP IC EU160-024 'Griffin' built by Newag stands at Wrocław Głowny with a TLK 24.09.2020

EP09 008 heads south from Wrocław Brochow. 24.09.2020

On arrival at Wroclaw Brochow there was a nice surprise in M62 1705 sitting in the yard on an engineers train, terribly positioned for a photo. Of course when a freight did arrive it was another German affair with DB’s Vectron 193 395.

I had identified a spot south of the station which should give a good view of IC trains, though didn’t expect any freight to pass here. En-route I was distracted somewhat by Kris-Max ‘Ludmilla’ 232 583 which was shunting in the yard. Various interesting older locos could be seen in the depot- something to explore later.

It took a while to get my IC shots but I was rewarded with EP09 008 and EU07 317 heading south after a little wait.

New ET26 003 'Dragon' loco form Newag stands outside the depot at Wrocław Brochow. 24.09.2020

Not moving, but at least well lit- ST44 1220 on Wrocław Brochow. 24.09.2020

Now it was time to tackle the depot- clearly lugging my hold luggage around was not going to be an option so I found a ‘subtle’ location to hide this for an hour or so by the lineside- sometimes needs must! I then donned my HV jacket, much more common in Poland than they once were, and simply wandered into the depot. Inside was a treasure-trove of locos, both serviceable and not. 

SU46 041 awaiting the cutters torch. 24.09.2020

Highlights included ST44 1220 (a class I have still not seen moving a train for PKP), ET41 141 in green nicely positioned, brand new EU26 003 (a new Newag ‘Dragon’) and the star being ET42 029 in heritage green – a class I had not previously photographed and which was high on my priority list for this trip. 

The depot also contained examples of ET21, ET22, SM31, SM42, ST43, SU45, SU46. My final port of call in the depot were some pictures of fire damaged SU46 041 which was sitting ready to be scrapped.

Retro-liveried ET42 029 stands on the depot at Wrocław Brochaw. 24.09.2020

Another heritage surprise is EP08 001 in the former express
orange livery seen shunting at Wrocław Głowny. 24.09.2020

I retrieved my bag and headed back to the station quite content. I would have another pleasant surprise at Wrocław Głowny as heritage orange liveried EP08 001 was shunting at the station, ahead of joining my own train to Leszno behind EP07 312. It wasn’t far out of Wrocław before the sun mostly disappeared. Despite some hauled stock on the other side of the station my train on to Wolsztyn was, of course, a nasty 2 car DMU, but I was at least met on arrival in Wolsztyn with an ice cream before being taken to my accommodation courtesy of the Wolsztyn experience.

 

EP07 2001 working from Poznan to Jelenia Gora at Leszno. 25.09.20

Friday 25^th September:

With only four round trips behind steam available in during my short stay in Wolsztyn I was obviously going to have to be up early for the 05:30 Wolsztyn – Leszno behind Pt47 65, a change from the Ol49’s which I had seen in steam on my previous trips. Getting up early certainly paid off as the morning light turned out to be good and there were a couple of opportunities for photo stops when the train was booked to pass DMU’s.

At Leszno I was caught by surprise by PolRegio’s (the new name for Przewozy Regionale) EP07 2001, working R76901 05:40 Poznan – Jelenia Gora, one of only a handful of workings for these trains. Also catching my attention was ST43 208 which was sitting outside the roundhouse at Leszno, clearly having been very recently moved despite this class now having effectively been withdrawn.

'Withdrawn' ST43 208 outside the roundhouse at Leszno. 24.09.2020

Back at Wolsztyn there was time for a quick change of attire before it was my turn on the footplate for the afternoon run to and from Leszno. Firebox food consumed back at the shed there was time for some photography and a scrub up before dinner at the usual Wolsztyn restaurant the Powozownia.

 

Saturday 26^th September:

PT47-65 powers out of Wolsztyn with the afternoon run to Poznan on 26th September 2020.

It was another early start as I was footplating again in the morning. This being a Saturday the steam turn is the 06:12 Wolsztyn – Poznan. Very little to report other than the steam as there wasn’t time to do much else in Poznan before the return after cleaning the loco and finding a bite to eat.

Highlighted by the lights of the brand new, but not yet opened platform 1 at Wolsztyn, PT47-65 awaits departure with the 05:30 Wolsztyn - Leszno. 25.09.2020

After watching the afternoon departure from Wolsztyn it was time to finally explore the town and the lake – something that I don’t think I found any time to actually do on my previous visit! Before dinner there was just time to pop down to the station to see the final steam arrival and hitch a quick ride down to the shed. This didn’t put me in the best position to buy my ticket for the following day from the ticket office and after walking back I discovered the lady didn’t want to sell me one anyway!

 

SU4210 004 under the shed at Wrocław Głowny. 27.09.2020

Sunday 27^th September:

Today was supposedly going to be the worst weather of the trip, which was fine as essentially it was to be a transit day. Being a Sunday there weren’t very many options to get out of Wolsztyn, and no steam either. I opted for the 09:31 to Leszno where I had an hour and a half fester before picking up EP07 1029 and retracing my steps back towards Wroclaw. The pause did give me time to explore the town of Leszno, something I’ve also not done before – the place is certainly pleasant but, again being a Sunday, mostly closed. Large parts of the Leszno – Wrocław line are currently under re-construction with single line working in place. The construction trains are being handled by a selection of Green TEM2 locomotives which can be seen shunting around their ballast wagons in the station from time to time.

EU07 540 calls at the new station at Gliwice 27.09.2020

At Wroclaw an extra coach was added to the train by SM4210 004. I also elected to try out the buffet car and had some rather pleasant breaded camembert for lunch.

Although I had booked through to my final destination; Katowice, since the light was not actually as bad as I had expected I left the train at Gliwice in the hope of seeing some freight- I had barely passed any on the train but having been here before (when it looked totally different) I knew it was a spot with potential. Five freights were seen in my two hours (all bar one in the first)- all with Polish traction this time. As I continued on to Katowice behind EP07 387 the sun came tantalisingly close to coming out and as I arrived into another station rebuilt since my previous visit there was a lovely sunset. 

Kolprem EU07's 153 and 070 power a coal train through Gliwice. 27.09.2020

I checked into my accommodation close to the station and quickly decided that I was exhausted from the last few days early starts it was to be a take away pizza in my room and an early night.

 

Monday 28^th September:

A very grey start to the day as I pondered my move to Mysłowice for some freight photography. I ended up purposely missing the train and deciding to take the tram, the only complication being working out where to get a ticket. I found a 90 minute ticket for 5zl from a convenience store and made my way via routes 20 and 14.

A pair of Konstal 105 trams lead by 508 shortly after departing from the station at Mysłowice. While there isn't much to indicate it here, Silesian tramways are rapidly modernising. 28.09.2020

The only double unit of the session- ZSSK's 131 020 works a coal 
train through Mysłowice. 28.09.2020

The Sliesian tramways are worth a trip in their own right for anyone who takes an interest in such things. The network is one of the largest interurban tramways in the world covering 111 route miles and linking many cities in the area. While many parts of the tramway have been modernised, particularly around Katowice itself, and much of the fleet is now new or modernised stock it is still easily possible to find sections of ancient decaying infrastructure worked by the typical, if outgoing, Konstal 105’s. Indeed I bumped into a British tram spotter while riding the route 14 towards Mysłowice.

In the familiar colours of Wisconsin Central 
RailPolska's 201Eo-001 (ET22) passes Mysłowice. 28.09.2020

There is a nice tram stop outside the station where routes 14 and 26 both terminate, and unfortunately while photographing the trams here I missed my first freight, a coal train hauled by a CTL TEM-2, even more unfortunately this had probably been the most interesting train to pass all morning. Mysłowice had potential to be very good, but in the gloom of a Monday morning slightly disappointed. Freight seen was as follows:

-OBB 1294 004 – Southbound Cargowagon / Intermodal

-RailPolska 201Eo-001 (ET22) – Southbound LE

-STK S200 529 (ChME3) – Southbound LE

-ZSSK 131 020 – Southbound Coal

-Lotos 6Dg-166 top and tail 6Dg 147 - southbound Coal

-OBB 1294 004 – Northbound LE

-PKP Cargo ET22 1124 – Southbound mixed

The driver of a Konstal 105 on Silisian route 14 manually
changes the points, another reminder of the investment 
still required on this massive inter-urban system. 29.09.2020

-PKP Cargo ET22 829 – Southbound Intermodal

-PKP Cargo SM42 080 – Southbound LE

-CTL TEM-2 227 – Northbound LE

-CTL 185 085 – Southbound LE

-Cargonit E6ACT-003 (Newag Dragon) – Northbound Tanks

-ECCO Rail SM42 2446 – Southbound LE

ST48 050, heavily built from an ST48 on a coal train in dismal 
conditions at Tarnowskie Gory. 28.09.2020

The afternoon plan was to move on to Tarnowskie Góry where I had identified a lineside position- unfortunately the weather didn’t improve, but at least my EN57 was particularly loud!

Once in position there was a bit of a wait for some trains but several southbound services did appear in increasingly poor weather conditions:

-LOTOS 181049 + 181058 Soutbhound tanks

-PKP Cargo ST48 040 Soutbhound Coal

- PKP Cargo ET22 999 Southbound LE

Modern traction against old infrastructure at Bytom. 28.09.2020

Classic Konstal action on the modernised main street of
Katowice with a route 7 service. 

The spot certainly had potential but with the weather getting progressively wetter and my bag already taking shelter beneath my umbrella I called time on the location early and headed back to Bytom. This is a station which has absolutely not been modernised (at platform level at least) with a large dingy overall roof. A couple of stabled freights were photographed here before I made my way back to Katowice by tram, after a lengthy delay finding a shop which could sell me a ticket. Route 7 was far less run down that the lines around Mysłowice but I did at least manage a Konstal 105 for part of the journey.

I made it out for dinner tonight and also managed a few night photos of the trams outside the main station before bed.

 

Tuesday 29^th September:

SM42 552 shunts several double-unit ET41's (139 and 074) on depot at Czechowice-Dziedzice. 29.09.2020

Konstal 105 340 emerges from the trees at
Mysłowice. 29.09.2020

This was the one day I was actually hoping for some decent weather, so to wake up for thick drizzle was somewhat of a disappointment! I had hastily made a plan the previous night of my moves today and drawn straws between Czestochowa and Czechowice-Dziedzice- the latter having won and affording my first ride with a Griffin with EU160 022 on a TLK towards Zilina, Slovakia. This should have been a freight hotspot but I realised fairly quickly that this was not going to be the case- the line towards Ostrava was blocked for engineering works (quite major engineering works- there was no track!), and it appeared the line towards Oswicem may well have been closed too. There was time to watch a bit of shunting within the depot and photograph the familiar looking 66166 in the yard before making a quick exit on the next train back to Katowice.

A lucky catch- Heritage liveried EP07 174 approaches Katowice with a TLK. 29.09.2020

While I still mourn the passing of Green ET22's
and their former passenger work these machines
are still amongst my favorites in Poland. ET22 896 
waits the road at Mysłowice. 29.09.2020 

Without a huge amount of time left there wasn’t a huge choice of alternative locations for what was left of the afternoon, so feeling it still had some potential I headed back to Mysłowice. A lucky bonus was catching EU07 174 in heritage green outside Katowice Głowny while being hauled myself by EU07 302.

A classic look to TEM2-116 at Mysłowice. 29.09.20

At Mysłowice the activity was better than the previous morning with highlights including Komprem M62M 018 (which looked great but sounded like a class 66!), and TEM2 – 116 (which certainly did not sound like a 66!). The light got a lot better too and a few interludes were taken to photograph the trams outside and go for a short hop on route 26 towards Sosnowiec- an interesting journey again on old infrastructure with Konstal 105 trams. 

A nice surprise was CTL's 'Ludmilla'. 232 584 passing through Mysłowice with a coal train. 29.09.20

Elderly 3E-100-076 (ET21) catches the sun at 
Mysłowice. 29.09.2020

In my time at Mysłowice the following freight trains were seen:

-PKP Cargo ET22 1023 – Northbound intermodal

-Kolprem M62M 018 – Northbound loaded steel

-TEM2 116 + Orion 6Dm 01 Northbound tanks

-PKP Cargo ET22 562 – Northbound Coal

-PKP Cargo ET22 209 – Southbound loaded scrap

-PKP Cargo ET22 1162 – Southbound steel carriers

-DB Schenker Rail Polska 66173 – Northbound LE

-Akiem 186 354 – Southbound coal

-Kris-Max 232 368 – Northbound single chemical tank

A very short load- Kris-Max 232 358 hauls a 
single chemical tank through Mysłowice. 29.09.20

-CTL 182 090 – Southbound Coal

-PKP Cargo ET41 192 – Southbound Coal

-CTL 232 584 – Southbound Coal

-DB Schenker Rail Polska 3E-100-076 (ET21) – Northbound LE

-PKP Cargo ET41 192 – Northbound Coal

-PKP Cargo ET22 896 – Northbound LE

M62M018 hauls a train of steel coils through Mysłowice. The loco has been re-engined and now sounds just like an EMD class 66! 29.09.20

 

A friend from back home - 66173 works light
engine through Mysłowice. 29.09.2020

Finally it was time to board my IC115 from Katowice to Krakow behind EU07 306. This route bears very little resemblance to the slow and aging infrastructure I experienced back in 2011 on my first visit, and while the line speed is an improvement I can’t say the same for the extensive sound fences which now hem in this route. A final area of work is between Jaworzno Szczakowa and Trezibinia where there is an extensive section of single line working, including the station at Trezibinia being totally re-built. The train is slowed by these works significantly, but that simply provided me time to enjoy my Czech beer on tap from the buffet before arriving into Krakow.

With conditions brightening double unit ET41 160 hauls a coal train through Mysłowice. 29.09.2020

 On arrival I was greeted by EP09 046, which I was surprised to see was still in the red and orange heritage livery I had seen it wearing on my first trip to Poland.

 A final heritage treat - EP09 046 at Krakow Glowny. 29.09.2020

There was not time for any more trains, plus the light had gone so I checked my bag into a locker and spent my last hour wandering around the delights of Krakow’s old town. I had forgotten quite how beautiful, and full of tourists, it was- quite unlike Katowice. Finally it was time to pick up my bag, do a bit of shopping and head to the airport- like so much of Poland the rail link having been rebuilt since my previous visit.

 

Conclusions:

Konstal 105N's at Mysłowice. The second vehicle being a heavily modernised version of foreground model. Much of route 14 and 26 which converge here maintain their old charm. 29.09.2020

EU07 317 heads south from Wrocław Brochaw. 29.09.2020

Poland somehow always leaves me wanting more and the area around Silisia does seem to be the busiest with its concentration of coal and heavy industry. Sadly once again I didn’t see either an ST44 or ET42 in motion during the trip- so that will be my excuse for my next visit- but I did at least see examples of both classes on the depot at Wroclaw.

Steam at Wolsztyn is quite a unique spectacle, and while we can all debate how ‘real’ or not it is, it is now the best example of regular working steam in Europe with ‘normal’ paying passengers on board. Clearly the operation isn’t going to continue for ever, but it has survived Covid for now and the local government has funded running for 2021.

It was great once again to get away during this ‘complicated’ year- indeed the curtains were drawn on quarantine free travel to Poland just a few days after my trip with restrictions being reintroduced for Poland 4 days later! A lucky escape there! Who knows where the next trip might be!?

PT47-65 heads into stormy skies as it leaves Wolsztyn for Poznan. 26.09.2020