Abandoned Steam Trains in Poland - Part 1

Permission was granted prior to filming this video.
Hello everyone,
Last year Lawrie headed out to Poland, and one of the things he wanted to do was to look at some of the countries abandoned steam engines, because it's unlike anything that we have in the UK.
First on his list of places to visit was Leszno to the old depo, to see some legitimately abandoned locomotives.
A video featuring, shot, and edited by Lawrie.
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[@dannyminxe5807]

My heart sank when you recognized number 7, I am so sorry. The world truly needs more preservationists such as yourself maintaining these beautiful old machines.

[@lmm]

If I was silly rich I'd love to save engines all over Europe where the preservation movement hasn't really taken off yet.

[@damienadamsen4581]

​@@lmm that's been my dream saving steam locomotives all over the world

[@Grinder_2112]

@@lmm Your audience could always help again...I'd chip in for something large and steamy.

[@ReggieArford]

@@lmm What gauge are those Polish locomotives (and railways)? They'd be easier to find a new home, if they were standard (4' 8½") gauge.

[@lmm]

@@Grinder_2112 we'd be looking at hundreds of thousands to do anything constructive with it.

[@kite7214]

It was sad to see that Howard has passed away. I had a fantastic summer some years ago at Poznan. Thanks Howard. Thanks Poland.

[@lmm]

It's so sad, and thus the curtain falls on steam in Poland

[@Richard_Calavera]

I'm from São Paulo, Brazil and around here there is an old British colony called Paranapiacaba (difficult name, I know hehe) and there is a railway "museum" in which almost all materials and machinery are in this condition or even worse thanks to the sea ​​air, is really heartbreaking seeing theses giants rotting away anywhere in the world

[@lmm]

Oh that sounds so sad

[@williamlloyd3769]

Some one posted a KZbin video of someone using a home built rail speeder to go on a stretch of those tracks. It looked like the jungle was making steady progress on taking over the route but they were able to use a portion of the railway.

[@MHBahnvideos]

2:52 This is the real Ol49-69. The Ol49-69 which is running was originally Ol49-99 until she returned to steam after a overhaul in 2015 or so. Nobody knows really why they changed her number.

[@lmm]

Shhhh! I'm confused why there's a three engine split with wrong numbers.

[@casperreininga3253]

But what engine was that Ol49-99 at the back of the line then? Why'd they change the numbers on three different locomotives?

[@tytuszgaety6959]

​@@casperreininga3253 It's Ol49-23 at the back of the line. I don't think they've changed the number of that engine for any reason - they were probably pretty careless about it. Back in 2008 when it was still operational it was marked with the right number. The "swap" between the real Ol49-69 and Ol49-99 ("new" Ol49-69 - operational engine until late 2022) happened in 2001. As far as I know, the real 69 from Wolsztyn depot was in too poor condition to be repaired so PKP (Polish State Railways) decided to repair Ol49-99 from Choszczno (due to liquidation of the Choszczno depot) and then they sent the 99 to Wolsztyn marked as Ol49-69. The old 69 was left in Gniezno worshops for couple of years and eventually it was taken to Leszno.

[@Luzycki_Milosnik_Kolei]

Well, I think the Ol49-69 broke down and the 99 was changed to 69 to resemble the locomotive. Even the decorations on the Ol49-69 (ex. 99) is very similar to the original Ol49-69.

[@lmm]

@@Luzycki_Milosnik_Kolei 69 was tired, 99 was in much better condition, so an unofficial swap happened.

[@StLovell2007]

I was lucky enough to spend time in Wolsztyn in 2000, staying with Howard. I drove OL49-111, 7, 59, 69 and a number of TY classes. We went into Leszno depot almost daily to service the engines after the run over from Wolsztyn. Back then there were very long scrap lines outside Leszno, and quite a few at Wolsztyn. Some partially cut up. Very sad to see how much it’s changed, especially 7. She was my favourite.

[@lmm]

It's amazing how much has changed since I first went out

[@ReggieArford]

@@lmm But why? If they've lasted this long why now?

[@TheMofRider2]

​@@ReggieArfordMoney... Maintenance and running costs grew, foundings (especially from abroad) decreased and hardly anyone at PKP actually interested in it.

[@TheMofRider2]

@StLovell2007 Even sadder (at least for me) to see is what Ty51-223 now looks like. And the awareness of never being able to hear that mighty ship whistle again... Although the loco is painted from the outside, it's just a dead sceleton.

[@alistairkewish651]

To quote an example of financial problems, here’s a true account. Polish power company approached PKP over an unpaid electricity bill. They issued them with an ultimatum. Either pay the whole bill now or we will shut off the power supply. Period. It might or just might explain steam was retained as a viable form of motive power.?

[@ministerstvo_]

Leszno is my home city! Thank you for this video my grandfather remeber this engine working in Leszno and near by villages.

[@dshack4689]

Interesting to see the piston rods and valves, they're often talked about or graphically represented but to see actual parts isolated its actually been additional informative to my previous level of understanding - thanks!

[@TomPrickVixen]

In the Eastern EU block the real issue is not that people don't want to save these locos, its simply nobody have the money to do so. Even to keep working locos operational is hard. Yes there are clubs, societies, foundations, volunteers, but they don't have a budget as well, just the "manpower" to help with the basics. Not to mention that the specialist engineers these locos require are dyeing out, and good luck finding a workshop that can (still) rebuild a boiler. + there's the luck factor too!

[@lmm]

This is true

[@TheMofRider2]

Exactly. For many years Interlok in Piła was the last steam loco repair shop, but in the end they also ran out of money. Nowadays the museum shed at Chabówka makes all major and many minor repairs on Polish steam locos, while the nearest boiler manufacturer/service point is in the Czech Republic. There though is also Meiningen still alive, but for Poles it's most often unaffordable. One drive wheel set from Pt47-65 now is at Meiningen for turning on the wheel set lathe.

[@piotrwakowski3814]

Destruction of polish industrial culture was done by "people" from "Solidarity" after 1989. They are still in power in Poland and have neoliberal views on the economy. Because of them economic collapse in Poland is still going. Besides, they are corrupt bandits and religious fanatics. "Solidarity" was a distater for Poland.

[@witoldlaszuk2543]

I'm from Poland, we don't abandon old locomotives, this author is lying, we still have a lot of them, and they are just waiting for their turn to be repaired. As you can see, the parts have not been scrapped, but they are still there and waiting. We have several museums with working locomotives that are constantly running, you can see youtube : Festival of Locomotives in Wolsztyn

[@lmm]

@@witoldlaszuk2543 None of the engines shown in the video are awaiting their turn for overhaul. Certainly not 111 which was abandoned in the middle of its overhaul.

[@user-zy2hg7vf4s]

Seeing those once proud steam locomotives in such a state is absolutely heartbreaking. When you recognized number 7 in that state and seeing it in action not that long ago it literally brought a tear to my eye. I sincerely hope with every ounce of my being that somebody in Poland takes notice of this and I really hope that other locomotives in Poland and around the world are saved from sharing the same fate as these poor souls.

[@lmm]

7 is really sad, I remember it as a working locomotive. It's fallen into this condition in my lifetime. That seems mad to think that could happen

[@Truerealism747]

​@@lmmwhen did they last run

[@lmm]

@@Truerealism747 7 ran in 2011

[@Truerealism747]

​@@lmmyes what about that rare one? And last surely it's worth saving no 7

[@lmm]

@@Truerealism747 To do what with though? There are better condition Ol 49s around than 7, it's quite tired

[@Edwardzzzz9]

I'm glad you put the tribute to Howard at the end - I'm not sure if you remember but I was lucky enough to meet you over there a year or so ago and had a somewhat frontseat view to your presenting. It was a pleasure to know Howard, even for the short time I got to visit Wolsztyn.

[@lmm]

I do remembered! I really feel Howard's passing. He was the very defination of e legend.

[@tymsky1122]

After a bit of research I figured out that the locomotive at 15:25 is actually Ol49-23. She ran excursion trains untill 2008 when she was going to be restored, so she was moved to Gniezno. But repair didn't happend so they moved her to Leszno and put number 99 on it. And the real 99 runs today as a number 69, while the real 69 is a wreck

[@lmm]

This is correct. I didn't mention it in the video as its all a bit dodgy

[@StrawberryStationMusic]

It's so sad seeing the OL49s rotting away in particular - they were the locos that sparked my interest in railways outside these shores as a kid. I had a VHS about steam in Poland in the 90s and I was absolutely fascinated by these big things with their halogen lights and funnel deflectors.

[@lmm]

I have a massive soft spot for them.

[@StrawberryStationMusic]

@@lmm my inner wibble addict has always wondered if the Nene Valley Railway would consider buying one, given their European loading gauge and continental stock. Would go nicely with their Slask tank. 👀

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@StrawberryStationMusic Silesian tank at best, please. As a Pole, i do agree, it's rather sad seeing these Ol49s just abandoned when they could be running somewhere else, but trust me, it wouldn't really pair up nicely, it's probably too big even for the NVR.

[@LarryCassar]

That is his heart breaking. I would like to see those run again, you know.

[@lmm]

So would I, but highly unlikely

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

There's an abandoned railway shed in my city that's basically in the same condition as this, however no rails run to it anymore since, i don't even know. There's also an abandoned railway yard and stations from the days of the Piotrków-Sulejów Narrow Gauge Railway, 1902-2008. They closed it after the line from Bugaj, one of the stations located in Piotrków, to Sulejów, the terminus, was ripped up. There's a book on it, although it's in Polish, so you'd probably need a translator.

[@travisolson9190]

With #7, it’s amazing how fast things can dilapidate. I look at some of the places and things I grew up seeing new when I was a kid and 20 years later they appear to be from another century.

[@celosy]

"That's just remains of the last fire..." Such a sad, wistful thought. I'm curiously fascinated by these visits to old, forgotten machinery, no longer in service and slowly being reclaimed and consumed by the forces of nature and time. Proof, too, that young trees will take root wherever they can.

[@lmm]

It's really sad to think it's come to an end

[@MillBrookRailroad]

You have just witnessed something very similar to what I've seen most of my life with steam in America. My favorite steam engine was permanently damaged by a boiler explosion in the 1990's.

[@KUBUTECH911]

What a great video from our country 😁 Thank you for your efforts to show people how the heritage of Polish railways looks like in real life :D I wolu like to add few things because the might add some light for few aspects. First of all, the main problem with those abandoned locomotives is that, the preservation of them is not a big priority for the owners (it might be an Association or natonial railway carrier like PKP Cargo, which owns for example Railway Museum in Chabówka) due to the lack of the funds, ownage problems, people to prepare them and maintenance in a right way. It leads to that those locmotives are consumed by corrosion and it dosen`t seem that there is a hope for restoring them :/ Second aspect is that today only few of the locomotives are still in operational state - one Pt47, two Ol49, and technically Ty2-911, Ty42-24 and Ty42-107. But nothing new is restored - somebody said that one Tr5 engine will be rebuilt by Wolsztyn Depot but that rebuilt is crowfounded as I remember. I think that for us, the only thing which we can do is to catch and feel those last locomotives because if nothing will change, we will be left with no functioning steam locomotives. P.S. Those diesel locomotives are left over due to the end of the certificate of technical efficiency and the are not allowed to move on their own. ST43 is the series of locomotives which requires P4 or P5 (Level 4 / Level 5) refurbishment but for their owner it would be not cost-effective to perform that.

[@andrewmasters5020]

I passed through Leszno on the train a couple of years ago. The abandoned locos caught me by surprise. Puszczykowko station (on the line to Poznan) looks like a preserved station (or did - it's being remodelled to update it), so I've modelled it on my n gauge micro layout, Boxworth.

[@trainspotter66]

Your making your way around the world not just the country now❤❤amazing video ❤😁

[@lmm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@eze8970]

Thanks Lawrie! 🙏🙏

[@lmm]

You're welcome!

[@chrismaskell5992]

My heart goes out to all the locomotive may all those steam locomotives who never makes it into presentation my heart goes out to you you will still stay in my memory I need to cry

[@Tombola1993]

Those poor engines. I feel so sorry for them. Especially the engine that you once fired up.

[@raisagorbachov]

20 years ago I took a train from Warsaw via Belarus to Vilnius. The train stopped at a station in Belarus with the seemingly sole purpose of selling transit visas to people. Well, I bought a visa. The staff all looked very poor with holes in their uniforms. The interesting thing was that just before they changed the wheels on the train to change from Western to Soviet track gauge we passed by a long line of abandoned and rusty steam engines.

[@lmm]

Oh for the gauge change! Fascinating

[@raisagorbachov]

@@lmm There were signs all over the carriage - "photography forbidden" so I left mine tucked away in the depths of my bag. Now if I'd had a smartphone, I'd have been right at it. That was before smartphones existed and before digital cameras were even half decent.

[@thereal_havanthawk]

Yes another upload keep it up ❤

[@lmm]

I'm trying!

[@loganbloom6191]

You should try and get one of the old girls

[@schwarzermoritz]

For what, a paperweight?

[@loganbloom6191]

@@schwarzermoritz no and I was mostly referring to the deisel

[@totalal4601]

You shouldn't encourage this

[@loganbloom6191]

@@totalal4601 i don't encourage a suggest and inspire. it's what good old-fashioned Americans believe in not the modern-day hippies and dumbass bullshit.

[@lmm]

I'd really like on of the little Shunters.

[@Pentium100MHz]

I have been to Wolsztyn twice. I got to be on the footplate of the Ol49-69 and the Pt47-65. I wanted to go this year as well, though that is not going to happen now. The things you take for granted... I am sad that I found it too late, but I suppose I should be happy that I found it at all and managed to go there twice. The price of admission was well worth it, though also steep enough that I could not go there every year or multiple times per year. While there, I walked around some of the abandoned locomotives there and thought to myself how sad it would be to come there one day and see Ol49-69 or Pt47-65 rusting there. Wolsztyn was the closest place to me with operating steam engines. The museum in Warsaw is closer, but nothing is operational there. Though, I guess, at least there are quite a few steam engines on static display there, even if they are falling to bits, its better than nothing.

[@lmm]

That's how I feel. Everytime I did the experience I thought it could be the last. Heartbroken that it now is

[@Pentium100MHz]

@@lmm I kind-of took it for granted. While the first time I went there, in 2019 March, Howard said that the future looked uncertain, once they announced that the service would continue in 2020 I kind-of though that he would just keep it going. I visited the second time in 2021 September and at the time it also looked kind-of OK - I mean covid was going away. I figured I should start going there about once a year, with the next time being March of 2023 (it was too hot in September for me). Then I was told that they do not have a working steam loco until June. OK, I though, I would go in October or November, yeah... I even bought fridge magnets and bottle openers. I am not that much of a rail fan, but I am a fan of old technology and doing the experience was awesome, even if I had trouble getting the coal to the far end of the firebox, especially in the PT47 - I think I only managed to do it once.

[@TheMofRider2]

​@@Pentium100MHzAnd ... you're welcome. Around September Pt47-65 should be running again.

[@asdf9890]

Very interesting channel, glad to find you! My first childhood obsession was trains.

[@arthurmatthews9321]

Lawrie we carnt save all of them . I know it’s sad . I m a volunteer at the NYMR , we have locomotives here that have taken 30 years to restore and put back into service. We have some projects that I don’t think will be finished in my lifetime. But at least we are trying, and that’s what is important.

[@lmm]

That's the difference - we're very big on preservation in the UK. There isn't that mentality over there

[@stanfischer6175]

When I was a teenager I had a far happier experience, the Moscow, Camden and San Augustine RR in East Texas. The WT Carter Lumber Co. never scrapped anything, they just side lined a variety of small steam locomotives some of which were equipped with link and pin couplers. All of them to the best of my knowledge made it into preservation. Got to ride it that day back in '67, a GE 44 ton diesel pulled the 1890's Long Island combination car!

[@lmm]

Oh that's super!

[@stanfischer6175]

@@lmm To delve a little deeper, one of the most iconic locomotives was Panama #201, a good sized (for the time) 2-6-0 that was used to build the Panama Canal! It was re-gauged from 5' to standard with wider tires. The MC&SA never renumbered it. It was steamed for a time in recent decades at a tourist RR in Arkansas. There was a small Shay locomotive, two typical logging 2-8-2's and a really ancient, tiny little 2-6-0 that featured safety valves on weighted levers that went into the cab. It also had primitive "tallow pots" which were funnels that led to the driving axles. Animal fat - tallow - was kept in a heated container on the locomotive back head and poured into the funnels. There was minimum vandalism much less ugly graffiti. About 1965 a GE 44 ton diesel was purchased and 2-8-2 #14 was kept serviceable as a stand by. By this time the little line had found notoriety as the shortest railroad (7 miles) in Texas, people started riding it as a tourist thing but ended in the '73. I've always liked the German Kreigsloks, a really rugged design.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

glad you got to ride it one last time !

[@flygo8665]

If you're interested the Bratislava depo has a bunch of rusty steam locomotives that they use for parts and it's a similair sight. I've personally not been to Poland yet, but they do have a lot of interesting machines around. Altough there's just something about the Czech locos is just magical and unique and i'd love to see you check our country out too. But Poland will do for now :D Incredible video btw, good job.

[@lmm]

Thank you, I'll have to visit Bratislava

[@marklinproductions2180]

this video put me in such a sad mood when i saw number 7, i was there when she was on her last run around doing shunting.

[@lmm]

Oh that is sad

[@madendo456]

All the damage done to the steam trains in Poland is PKPs fault. Keeping those machines in their arms, stripping them for parts and leaving them to rot. Not too long ago they tore down a overhead signal box which was the last one in Poland. They are planning to tear down the roundhouse too. It's depressing. I've been on every steam engine parade here and seeing it all fall apart breaks my heart.

[@lmm]

It's very sad. It was such an amazing thing to have running, but that's it now

[@Spud607]

Europe is a prime place to get steam engines it seems. I'm investigating the possibility of aquiring a Finnish Hv class for a potential heritage railway in Ireland depending on what Irish Rail intend to do with the line. :D

[@lmm]

That's quite an idea

[@Spud607]

@lmm it's quite far-fetched, and it depends entirely what Irish Rail want to do with the line. I'm scouting for anyone local to try and get after something. Hopefully it goes well :D

[@lmm]

@@Spud607 best of luck!

[@fnh8340]

What about the difference in track gauge? Standard v Irish gauge.

[@Spud607]

@fnh8340 Finland is 5 foot gauge, which could be easier to regauge. I've also got other options in Australia or Brazil, but their a bit far away. It's all very circumstancial anyway. There is also options in Ireland but I can be very certain they are not for sale unfortunately so a loan agreement would need to be arranged. I don't even know if I have a line to work with yet so I havn't really done much about actually aquiring an engine. I'm waiting for a reply from Irish rail presently. :)

[@pawelbarcinski3986]

It’s sad to see steam locomotives in agony in my country. 😢 The PKP (national railway) doesn’t care about heritage as long as cannot make money on it. There is still the chance to preserve it as restored non-runners.

[@lmm]

It is very sad

[@CMD_Line]

I feel a new fund raiser coming 😂🎉

[@lmm]

Maybe 😂

[@danielt.7153]

You should visit Karsznice, quite unique collection of steam locomotives, including only surviving Ty-246

[@Oldsmobile69]

You should check out an old Polish film, it's a whodunnit about trains and features steam locomotives prominently. Called "Man on the Tracks" from 1957.

[@lmm]

I will!

[@Pentium100MHz]

There is also a Russian film, called Край (2010) (it means edge or land), it even features a locomotive race. The film is on KZbin, though, at least for me, the subtitles are messed up.

[@bradpalmer2914]

I was 12 when I went to the infamous Barry sidings on a day trip with my local photography club. The sight of those once magnificent beasts discarded and left to rot was one of the saddest things I ever saw. If I can find the (pretty awful) photo's I took, I will send them to you

[@lmm]

I'd love to see them!

[@kevinchestney9006]

Having seen the condition of some locomotives in Barry scrapyard in the 1980s after and beyond after 25 years in the open these are all able to be restored.

[@adem9599]

They won't be, not that many people are interested in railways and Poland just has a different mentality about heritage. Steam in Poland will soon be dead.

[@lmm]

They could, but there are better ones which would be easier. Sadly there just isn't the drive in Poland.

[@100gpdriver]

Wasn't expecting to see you on secrets of the underground you must be on the up. I find your channel interesting and very watchable ☝👍👍👍

[@huwdavies6650]

Visited the Berlin Technology museum which is based in an old railway depot complete with locomotive houses. Those locos are HUGE! Just been watching Secrets of the London Underground on Yesterday, I saw someone who looked a bit familiar. 🤔

[@lmm]

They have a couple of Polish engines there too! I enjoyed filming that

[@Mr.Neil1]

Love abandoned stuff

[@lmm]

Makes me sad

[@mrtnsnp]

If you really want to see the difference in the loading gauge between the UK and a typical mainland European loading gauge, then visit the national railway museum in the Netherlands ("Spoorwegmuseum", Utrecht). The NS series 1500 are actually second hand UK machines, sold when the last 1500 V DC lines were switched over to 25 kV AC. The NS required extra locomotives at the time, and a deal was made. One of those is in preservation in the Netherlands, one went back to the UK in the original livery. But in the museum you can see the 1500 next to the 1100, 1300, and 1600 that originate in France, and the 1200 that were built with Marshall money after the war, and were probably close to the maximum size that would still fit on Dutch rails. If this is your goal, be sure to contact the museum before you go, as the space is limited, and the combination you'd like to see may not be on display.

[@lmm]

On one of my trips we passed a class 66. It was amazing the difference in size

[@realcanadian96]

Those SM42s make me sad the most. Ive always loved eastern european road switchers the most out of all locomotives in europe. Just seeing them rust away and knowing i cant do anything just fills me with despair.

[@lmm]

Same. I can't believe how much the country has changed since my first visit

[@michi9575]

When you are driving back to England you can visit Falkenberg and Hermeskeil in Germany there are lots of old steam locomotives in a museum and lots of it are looking like they are lost. Sorry my english is not so good😅

[@renataandrews368]

Cool!

[@lmm]

It is!

[@davidsanok405]

im so sad seeing it going to make me cry

[@althejazzman]

I've only just read the story of Howard's achievements. His vision and how he made it possible to keep this service running for 25 years longer than it was intended.

[@lmm]

He was a Legend. I think people in Poland will soon realise just how much good he did

[@koiyujo1543]

it's sad to see these beauties like this as an American I remember when the J class steam locomotive 611 came in fully restored and I was so happy when that day in 2016 she came home here in my city of New York but I love European engines each country and such are so unique and have their own character it's wonderful but seeing these like this breaks me almost it's horrible to see them in this condition

[@TrainLovers-TL69]

It's always sad to see these wonderful machines rusting away

[@lmm]

So very sad

[@MrRmotyka]

This is so sad, Im of Polish background and since i was a small kid I used to watch the steam trains running whilst on holiday with my parents in north Poland. In the early eighty's i used to visit Volsztyn regularly, as a keen photographer i spent days morning till night filming at the loco shed all on my own when at that time Volsztyn was little known. I Also had the opportunity to be on the foot plate and spend the day going from Wolshtyn to Poznan and back. Read an earlier comment here of which I totally agree. There was never any interest or money from the PKP to keep or restore these locos, it had no value to them. Here in the UK we take a completely different view on restoring and keeping steam engines. Unfortunately all that's left are fond memories and hours of Hi8 films. Many thanks for this video it was a pleasure watching

[@MrBnsftrain]

Poland still having many steam locomotives rotting in storage across the country amazes me. The loco at 9:02 was built in Romania in the 1960s. Most were retired in the 90s but many still work on non-electrified lines. The SM42 is probably the most common diesel in Poland with over 1,000 built Having an operational steam engine next to a bunch of rotting ones reminds me of the Illinois Railway Museum. They have Frisco 1630 and J. Niels shay 5 in operation, some kept in decent condition in the sheds, while others are left rotting in the open with many parts missing.

[@leverettrailfan5414]

A lot of museums struggle with the problem of limited protected storage space, and finite resources. A big museum has to pick and choose what to tackle. It's tough to give everything the attention it needs if you have a large collection.

[@robertp8152]

Nice parts supply!

[@lmm]

That is what they've been used as

[@TheEerieMaster]

I'm not crying you are 😭

[@lmm]

I definitely did 😂

[@ALGaming2010]

my dad went to poland in the 2000s and drove many ol49 steam locos including ol49 111 and even met howard

[@thatww2nerd81]

I won't lie, I shed few tires during this video. These living, breathing machines, being left cannibalized and forgotten, rusting away in a siding is a fate wrose then scrap. To see them like this, it was painful.

[@lmm]

So did I

[@user-xd9uk6bn1b]

Also, at least there is plenty of steam in operation today. Even here in Australia. If you get the chance to see some, it's worth it.

[@davidhill3724]

neat video

[@lmm]

Thank you

[@Mr_wally]

Start a fundraiser to save the small version of the kriksloge

[@lmm]

Would need an awful lot of money.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

A very sad ending for a good old steam locomotive!! Most of our Southern Railway locomotives were taken to poor old Barry Island Scrapyard.

[@lmm]

Barry was a great boon to us in the UK

[@leokicklighter8287]

Any ideas on what will become of the locos used in the Wolsztyn Experience with Howard's tragic passing and the subsequent shutdown? Seeing this is painful enough, I don't think any of us could bear to lose the intact and running engines too.

[@lmm]

Only the Pt is working at the moment, and that's having baring work. They'll likely just stay in the museum at Wolsztyn.

[@clockwork3494]

It's honestly tragic to see locomotives in this condition regardless of being steam powered, diesel or electric. I felt quite sad when you recognised No. 7, especially since there's been a mere 10 years in between the time of being on her footplate and now seeing her in such derelict state. It's such a shame the preservation movement isn't as big in Poland and Europe as a whole as it is in countries like the UK, US or even here in Australia. That said, I'd recommend you take a trip doun under sometime and visit the Dorrigo Rail Museum as it sometimes feels like the Australian version of the Barry scrayard with many locomotives and rolling stock lined up in a similar way, a place I fear many of those locomotives will stay due to great ambitions with little funds.

[@Plokman040]

It is indescribable how horrible lost Steam is. These were once living breathing machines and here they are rotting. Is sick.

[@Oswaldo.]

The number 7 was caussing quite the trouble at Wolsztyn, always getting cracks on the frames even after being fixed, hell its boiler even started leaking after a regular passenger run, it got send to leszno to be repaired numerouse times, and well, one of thoose times was the last one.

[@peterm7548]

My cousin was a loco driver in Poland during the 60s-90s.He started off on steam engines and then drove diesels and electrics all over Poland. He took me to his engine shed in 1976 and it looked just like this one. The Poles aren't as sentimental about their steam locos as the Brits. But then do we have any regular steam services left? No, but they do on the Wolsztyn line! But for how much longer?

[@lmm]

We have the Jacobite. That's a daily service through summer!

[@TheHowell1990]

Just a suggestion but for Lawrie go's a model loco could you look into Trackmaster and Playrail kinds of trains?

[@Lalano.]

As a polish person i like your channel

[@lmm]

Thank you!

[@chazzyb8660]

I do remember seeing some of those steam trains still running back in the late 70s, when the Rusians were still (sort of) in charge. We were told not to photograph them, on pain of what I'm not sure (Siberia maybe?). Needless to say, boy with Instamatic clicked away, my cousin had requested images, I don't think he was aware of the possible consequences.

[@lmm]

Lots of people did. It must have been incredible to see!

[@HolzMichel]

in your travels you should go pop in to the yard at Hermeskeil in Germany... there are a boatload of old engines rusting away. you'll go nuts there

[@CustomiZe_]

A polish 2-10-0 used to be the main work horse of the Nene Valley Railway under preservation in the 80s/90s and it left the UK to go back to Poland i think. Hope it didn't end up like these locos 😊😪

[@thomashambly3718]

that one was sold to a museum in Belgium, last I heard, so she may be in good condition

[@CustomiZe_]

@@thomashambly3718 hopefully 🤞

[@lmm]

It's not working anymore I'm afraid

[@CustomiZe_]

@@lmm oh really....that's a big shame 😕

[@Hoscaletrains447]

It’s sad but using parts to keep others trains a live is still good

[@lmm]

They did, but no more.

[@shakedydogshake]

Somebody could reuse that old cab for a cute garden shed or an outdoor work shed for a G-scale or live steam railroad.

[@Arkay315]

That is such a shame, those should be donated to a heritage railway or a museum, they could at least use those old locomotives as spare parts.

[@adem9599]

There are no standard gauge heritage railways in Poland, most likely they will just be left there till they fall apart.

[@lmm]

There are a handful of museums with similar engines in them. These have given many parts to keep the others at Wolsztyn running.

[@Arkay315]

@@lmm at least thier parts are put to good use.

[@TheRealVGR]

Little info on the ST43 class: The PKP ST43 is a modified export version of the (now defunct) Electroputere Craiova locomotive works LDE2100 or 060-DA locomotive. They were made in two variations: 060-DA with a V. Max of 100 km/h and 060-DA1 with a V. Max of 120 km/h They were made between 1959 and 1987 with a total 2496 units made for various operators. The polish variants,were made between and shipped between 1965 and 1978 with 422 units made. As far as i know,all PKP ST43 class locomotives are widthdrawn but some still remain with private operators. However, in Romania, most 060-DA locomotives are still operated by both the state railways as well as private operators. Some even have their original compressed air whistles. There are also a couple refurbished units operating across Europe. Technical specs: Engine: Sulzer 12LDA28 Engine power: 2100 HP / 1565 kW (nominal) or 2500 HP / 1864 kW (Theoretical Max Power) Lenght: 17000 milimeters / 55.77 feet Width: 3000 milimeters / 9.74 feet Height: 4435 milimeters / 14.53 feet Weight: 115 tonnes fully topped up Max speed: 100 km/h / 62 mph (060-DA) 120 km/h / 74 mph (060-DA1) Axel arrangement: Co'-Co'

[@lmm]

That's interesting, thank you!

[@nordisk1874]

Looks like Steamtown in Scranton, PA. You can see all this sadness in “museum” florm!

[@lmm]

Least they're safe. Future unknown for this lot.

[@nordisk1874]

@@lmm they are far from safe. It’s our National scrap yard!

[@lmm]

@@nordisk1874 ah

[@evan12697]

@@lmmyeah these things happen when you leave preservation up to the federal govt

[@wondermenel2811]

Fun Fact: SM03s are called Ducks or Ducklings, something like that Also, at 9:49 these three engines most likely worked along each other (as in steam, diesel and electric) as the engine in the backgound is most likely a EU07 or EP07, both from the were introduced in the late 60s/early 70s

[@lmm]

I really want an SM03. I think they're proper neat

[@chemech]

Preservation of our mechanical heritage takes a bit of willpower from many people. We have already lost so much to the scrappers, due to people who see no value in the tired old machines... And yet, everywhereyou turn, you will find a few hardy souls who love these old machines, and can scrape together some money and time to restore and preserve exemplars. We've got such scattered all over the US & Canada, and the UK has it's share - and some! - and many othe people in many other places. This depot in Poland is a treasure trove of parts - it's a matter of finding some dedicated people to organize the project... each success will breed more success.

[@lmm]

There is very litte interest in Poland for these machines.

[@chemech]

@@lmm Sad... I know that the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss - and presumably the Hungarians and Czechs - do have quite active steam preservationists.

[@legocentryk]

Polacy rodacy! Łączcie się! Btw whacha doing in poland Lawrie?

[@lmm]

I was there for a wedding last year. Hoping to get back out soon.

[@themidlandconnection]

Hypothetically, i know the nene doesnt really need a chonky 2-6-2 appearing on its doorstep, but number 7 would fit there if you were again to "Hypothetically" try and purchase it off PKP....

[@lmm]

It needs an awful lot of work, but an Ol would be nice at the nvr.

[@petrupiano6398]

you should go to Dej triage depot in Romania ,there are so many jewels that are just left to rot there

[@czapajet4264]

Lawrie, while you're still in poland you should visit Wyrzyska kolejka powiatowa in Białośliwie, it's a 600mm narrow gauge railway still in operation.

[@lmm]

It's on my list of places to go!

[@czapajet4264]

I actually volunteer on WKP. I'll certainly be there on 29th of july. If you're interested we can meet in Białośliwie so i can give you an in depth tour and tell some of the history.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I know that in the UK, a scrapping spree took place, and then some old locos caught a lucky break, which then started a restoration trend (I know that's quite simplified). Perhaps, there's hope for old locomotives in Poland. At least in typical European fashion, this place is tidy (at least for being bonded).

[@davegillman6296]

Such a sad sight

[@lmm]

Heartbreaking

[@dogla2]

Curiosity ,Emotions pain happiness The End. Memory😊

[@lmm]

Very sad

[@mathiaswerner9282]

btw if you look for a very nice railway museum then go to Chemnitz Hilbersdorf RAW in germany this is a cool museum full of old german steam locomotives from the gdr and some even before the second world war

[@lmm]

Oh really?

[@richardharrold9736]

@@lmm yep, and there's one at Dresden, and one at Nördlingen, and and and... lots of real steam in Germany!

[@dirktaubenreuther9437]

But you ought to be careful! The museum Chemnitz - Hilbersdorf is the old depot for freight train locomotives, the had been an other depot for passenger duty called Chemnitz - Hauptbahnhof neer the main Station and the repair plant (RAW) was inbetween them! There had been even a plant for building new locomotives in this city, but it is almost 100 years ago that the last locomotiv was build there !

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

I like to add one small correction: the two Kriegslocomotiven shown are of two different classes. The heavier (today rather rare!) Baureihe 42 with a larger diameter boiler in the first scene (7:07), and the lighter Baureihe 52 in the second scene (10:37).

[@lmm]

Oh is the ty3 the bigger? My bad!

[@danny1983ish]

​@lmm you should fund raise to save number 7

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

@@lmm To be honest, I am not sure about the Polish designations. Judging from the locomotives, they must have been. Greetings from the country which has graciously spread newly-built locomotives all across Europe ;)

[@lmm]

@@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X Ty2 and Ty3 are German 'gifted' to Poland after the 'event' Ty42 and Ty43 are built in Poland after.

[@chemech]

Thanks for the input! As an American, I am just barely aware of the BR-52, but suspected that the DRB had to have had some other standard types. Not in the least bit surprised that the Soviets / Warsaw Pact adopted those locomotives, and continued production.

[@ivovanzon164]

The supposed Ty3 (Drg 42) is more likely also a Ty2 (drg 52), as it doesn't have the signature headlights of the 42 that were in the cylinder assembly

[@lmm]

I may have got confused 😂

[@TheMofRider2]

Sources say that they indeed were original DRG 42's, but PKP was and is very strict with fitting their own lamps on all rolling stock. That's why most likely when changing the numbers from German to Polish they also changed the lamps and masked the holes in the cylinder block; assumingly with some spare parts from Ty2. The here shown Ty3-2 was built as 42 1427, or loco no. 4448 at Schichau in Elbing in 1944. The thing with the lamps can also be seen quite good when comparing a Polish ST44 to the Soviet M62 or the GDR V200 (later BR120). If you look closely on a ST44 you will notice the plugged holes made originally by LTZ in Luhansk.

[@LordPhobos6502]

0:33 Set of driving wheels... reckon they'd be good for the Ruston? :)

[@lmm]

Probably fit 😂

[@jakubiak10l]

there ain't only steam locos left to rot.. Pkp is sometimes just that stupid, that it just do the same things with locomotives, we still use here, diesel trains, electric trains.. even some railbusses

[@Dhira108]

Sobering I feel this was the feeling as each steam train finished here in the UK, hopefully the heritage scene will increase in the EU

[@lmm]

I feel there was always more love for the railways in the UK

[@bartoszkrawczyk3946]

The good thing is that Poland is starting to get some momentum in restoring old locomotives. The biggest problem was the fact, that until 1990's there was no effective way of having a locomotive unless you were a factory of some kind or the state railway operator, PKP. Only after the fall of communism did such an opportunity arise. However, with stuff that isn't basic supplies having a practical cost 4-5 times higher than in the so-called west (Polish Zloty is around 4-5 Euro, and while basic supplies and wages calculate 1EUR --> 1PLN, other stuff calculates 1EUR --> 4-5PLN), it is really hard to get something done, especially as only available steamworks capable of doing major steam locomotive restorations are in Germany or the Czech Republic (where Pt47-65 was sent to recently; afaik it is now back as of writing this comment). However, we are actively trying to get things running, with organisations like KSK Wrocław (Klub Sympatyków Kolei Wrocław; Railway Enthusiast Club Wrocław) recently restoring a legendary mainline Polish diesel locomotive SU45 (SU45-079 specifically) to a full working condition, now restoring SP42-001, a version of SM42 equipped with steam heating, an express locomotive EP05-22 (as of now, it is ready on the outside) and a TKt48, a rather large 2-8-2 tank engine. They have already renovated several coaches and diesel shunters, so I wish them best of luck in restoring other engines they can get. At last, a lot of volunteers work around Polish narrow gauge railways. While those railways usually have a rather short route (usually around 10-20km) and a very limited range of trains (the most steorytypical railways having diesel Lxd2 and steam Px48 as traction power, FAUR A20D-P coaches and railcars and "summer coaches" that are just glorified freight cars with seats), many do their best to keep these little railways running or even help them improve. What is also an accomplishment of some sort, is that several Polish locomotives regained their old paint schemes while being kept in regular service, with the most recent one being a SU42 based in Chojnice (I do not remember the number of this machine; yet again a SM42 version for passenger work, this time with electric heating; all of those were converted from SP42s) getting 1990s/2000s yellow and blue colours from when the rebuilds occurred. We, Polish railway enthusiasts, have a lot to do to get en par with the west, yet we are on the right way.

[@aidenpuppy2194]

I feel like you should try and find parts of steam trains and add the parts so they could possibly run again cause steam trains are awesome

[@lmm]

That would need a vast amount of money

[@aidenpuppy2194]

@@lmm yeah it would

[@nathanh.5373]

You should really go take a look at the Dampflok Museum Hermeskeil if you have the occasion. It's got a huge collection of dozen of steam locos rotting away. Look it up on Google, there are tons of pictures

[@lmm]

I'll have to try and get it there

[@reconwarroirthetrue1685]

heartbreaking 💔 😢😮😢

[@lmm]

It is

[@koiyujo1543]

number 7 looks almost unrecognizable how could she end up like this?! I don't understand how she could end up looking like a pile of scrap makes me hurt so much

[@ouchieduck2459]

it would be thoroughly interesting to see if they would let you purchase even just a few of the parts of the engine left, becayse i would love to have pressyre gauges or reversers at home. or even just the loco

[@lmm]

I'd love to have an engine

[@ouchieduck2459]

@@lmm are we talking engine as in whole loco or just nick the power unit out of one for the ruston

[@jerrywalker7192]

"A locomotive that will never be put back together again" Me: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!!!

[@lmm]

Good luck! You may need deep pockets

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

SO SAD..😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@neilhansen5663]

Very sad indeed

[@lmm]

Heartbreaking