Kohlemine Durdevik Die Kohlemine Durdevik hat den eingeschränkten Betrieb wieder intensiviert. Ein Großauftrag aus Slowenien brachte sogar wieder Güterwagen – und somit die Dampflok 62 111 – auf die landschaftlich schöne Strecke zum Staatsbahnhof Zivinice zurück. Die Züge fahren nur sporadisch, etwa ein bis zwei pro Woche. Mit dem Kraftwerk Tuzla laufen derzeit auch Gespräche. [...]

Just got an information from Jun that they held a meeting in Sandaoling. New decision is: Steam at the west end of the pit will be finished in 2015. Not sure yet whether beginning or end of 2015. Eastern side will remain steam with two to three locomotives. The planned line to the new mine [...]

March 30th Diaobingshan (formerly Tiefa) stopped the passenger service to Daqing. This was a steam service until then. Since April 1st they run the Donguangtun passengers (two pairs a day) by steam instead. This line is known as “Faku-line”. It’s the scenic line of the system. Seit 30. März ist der Personenverkehr auf der Strecke [...]

by James Waite The 3ft 6ins (1067mm) gauge Mount Lyell Abt Railway opened in 1898 to provide transport from the copper mines rapidly being developed at Mount Lyell, near Queenstown in western Tasmania.  The use of an Abt rack section provided the only feasible means for the railway to reach Strahan, a port on McQuarie [...]

Better than expected: two to three pairs of trains every day, good weather and hard contrasts between iPhone and rusty passenger coaches. They plan to re-open the closed branch line. So far a permit is still compulsory, but I think it will be a free area in a couple of months. The police came once to [...]

… and we are there (as expected). C2 218 with a westbound coaltrain (19 March 2013). C2 218 with an eastbound empty train (19 March 2013). Greetings from China, Olaf

From Hans Schaefer, 15.3.2013 They have two engines: Ol49-59 and 69. Pt 47-65 is in Chabowka for major boiler repair. It will be back this autumn. Both Ol49 used to be reliable, but 59 went to Lesno on Monday for repairs an inspector required to be done. Ol49-69 got a leak out of the right [...]

Rongshan is back to life. The passenger timetable (see http://www.farrail.com/pages/touren-engl/china-2013-03-Rongshan-prison-railway.php, you need to scroll down) is slightly changed … and at the moment it’s sunny there! The diesels are still in the depot, they’re running with steam. Rongshan ist wieder zurück im aktiven Leben. Der Personenzugfahrplan hat sich leicht geändert … und derzeit scheint die [...]

I got this from Thomas Tedros: The railway line from Massawa up to Baresa is destroyed due to a heavy flood.  There was a heavy rain around Massawa and destroyed many houses. 15 people died as a result and the Rail ways line is washed out. The ER checked the line and confirmed the line [...]

Report by Jeremy Browne from the recent trip to the Eritrean Railways Ever since I read “Far Wheels” back in 1962 I have wanted to visit Eritrea to see the amazing Italian Mountain Railway. Alas, Eritrea has been involved in more than 30 years of war since then and the railway was all but destroyed [...]

Hi, guys! Happy New Year 2013! As always I have some presents for you, 13 calendars for download here: http://raildata.info/Kalender/2013/index.html   Enjoy! Cheers, Roni   Examples:   Hallo! Fröhliches Jahr 2013! Wie immer gibt es ein paar Geschenke, diesmal 13 Kalender, zum Download hier:  http://raildata.info/Kalender/2013/index.html Viel Spaß damit! lg, Roni     Zum Beispiel:   [...]

Wujiu: Discovered in Novbember 2011 (see http://www.farrail-blog.com/englishposts/probably-new-steam-discovery-in-china-wujiu-coal-mine/) it’s already over. Since December 7th, 2012 a diesel loco took over all duties. Sad! Wujiu: Entdeckt im November 2011 (siehe http://www.farrail-blog.com/englishposts/probably-new-steam-discovery-in-china-wujiu-coal-mine/) ist es nun schon wieder vorbei: am 7.12.2012 ging die erste Diesellok in Betrieb und wickelt den Gesamtbetrieb ab. Schade! Bernd

After someone spread rumours that it is not possible to get a permit for the “prison railway” Rongshan twice within six weeks I let my contact talk to the local authorities again and got this answer: “I’ve just talked to Rongshan for our visits again. Can confirm again that we will surely be allowed to go [...]

Hallo! Diesen Herbst wurde die slowenische 06-018 (Borsig 12207 / 1930) wieder fahrtüchtig aufgearbeitet, im November verkehrte sie ein erstes Mal auf der Wocheinerbahn, am 12. 12. 12 als zweite Sonderfahrt von Maribor auf der alten Südbahnstrecke nach Ljubljana und Koper. Was für ein Glück, dass es gleichzeitig ein bombastischer Wintertag war… Zur Reportage mit 50 [...]

In my trip repoort from March 2011 I published a list of freight wagons (http://www.farrail.com/seiten/tour-report/Wagons-for-museum-stock.pdf) which would be worth to preserve. The published list only showed the freight wagons – but not the also discussed luggage van. After some convincing work and phone calls to the general manager of the Eritrean Railways he agreed to rescue one [...]

I received this from Michael Pass regarding steam in Thailand:   Hi everyone, following the complete rebuild of SRT 824 & 850 & subsequent steam testing & trial runs - it’s just been confirmed that next week’s steam special from Hua Lamphong station to Ayutthaya is definitely on – tickets 150 Baht & SRT hotline N° [...]

No service between Ajing and Xinqiu any more. All passenger trains are cancelled. Nine SY in use plus one more for the other company with their decorated SY 1395. The rest is unchanged except that you need a permit for the stabling point now. Costs 300 RMB per person per day and includes a visit [...]

Diaobingshan (formerly Tiefa) will continue to use two steam locomotives in the next two or three years. They even may add a third locomotive to the current roster. One steam loco is used for the passenger trains to Daqing while the other is for shunting. If they add a third one it’s also for shunting [...]

Some changes in using steam in Sandaoling: There might be a locomotive among the coal train shuttles which is facing south-east tender first – i.e. coming uphill from the pit tender first. In addition, trains from Nanzhan to the deep mines are pushed now. They’re also using one of their diesels on this line. Otherwise [...]

The new timetable of Wolsztyn indicates that there are no steam trains on Saturdays and Sundays any more. The timetable starts December 9th, 2012. Der neue Fahrplan von Wollstein sieht ab 9.12.2012 keine Dampfzüge an Wochenenden mehr vor.