Steam in Europe 2010

Many countries here are also covered elsewhere on this site:

This site has never aimed to cover heritage/preserved steam in (Western) Europe. For information on these I recommend:

For a site with an amazing site with a huge number of images check out RailfanEurope-  http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix_frameset.html. Several links to folder in this site have been added to this page (24th May 2007).

Another site well worth visiting is Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of Europe - http://www.steane.com/egtre/egtre.php. 

My museums page highlights known significant railway museums in Central and Eastern and Northern Europe, including a few countries not included here like those in Scandinavia and the Baltic States, similarly my steam narrow gauge page.

Albania Index

It always seemed likely that derelict steam locomotives survive in the country, see http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/al/steam/pix.html. I am pleased to say we now have confirmation at first hand comes from James Waite (21st June 2008).

Armenia Index

Mark Enderby reports on two (inactive) steam survivors in Yerevan (1st September 2008).

Azores Index

James Waite alerted me to two reports which confirm the continued existence of two broad (7ft 0¹/₄in) gauge steam locomotives at Ponta Delgada in the Azores - see that from Chris Brady from some time back http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/azores/broad.htm and that of a June 2008 visit by Colin Churcher http://www.railways.incanada.net/Azores/Azores.html, the latter has links to pages describing other relics (16th October 2008).

Azerbaijan Index

John Dodds reports (21st June 2008): "I've found two 0-10-0 tender locos just outside Sumgait on the road going north and three and a half loco 2-10-0 tender type at the back of the main station in Baku. Its dangerous to search too hard for anything around the railways because they are still considered by the authorities as a strategic part of the defences!!! I have been arrested twice, once for attempting to take a photo of the 2-10-0s and the second time I was arrested was for taking a photo of a door with a Moorish arch at the main railway station . So be careful!". (This being part of the former Soviet Union, I assume the 0-10-0s are from the ubiquitous E/Em/Er class or similar and the 2-10-0s most likely L class. RD)

Belarus Index

There are railway museums in Brest (opened in 2002) and Baranovichi (opened in 1999), see http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/by/steam/pix.html for some good pictures. See my museums' page and also some pictures provided by Torsten Schneider (30th November 2008).

Torsten Schneider adds (16th November 2008) "Contrary to rumours on the web (railfaneurope, farrail newsletter) there has been no commercial steam-shunting in Osopovichy (or elsewhere in Belarus) in recent years. However a number of steam locomotives is still serviceable. As a friend from Minsk reported, among them are Er 739-93 (built 1935) from Krichev depot which featured in a WW2-movie in Brest in September 2008, Kriegslok TE 8021 was under steam near Minsk in 2007 also for a movie, and Er 789-10 in 2006. Apart from the collections in the open-air railway museums in Brest (closed Mondays and Tuesdays, best visited in the morning) and in Baranovichi (apparently closed Sundays) there are also some steam locomotives plinthed in or near railway stations (seen at Lida, Maladishna, and Orsha) or in depots (seen at Baranavichy)."  

Bosnia Index

There will be a short tour of Bosnia (and Serbia) from 28th April to 5th May in association with the 2010 Fedecrail Conference in Budapest. Click here for more information.

Trevor Heath tells me (6th March 2009) that 62-382, 62-520, 62-383 and 62-680 have been acquired from Mital Steel by the Bosnian National Railway for use at depots including Bihac, Mostar
and Tusla. Remarkable!

For a summary of the main sites using real working steam then see Keith Chester's original reports dating from 1997/8. Basically the list comprised coal mines in Kakanj, Breza, Tuzla area, Banovici area  and some locations around Lukavac. 

If you cannot find later information on any site Keith mentions in the 2005 and later reports listed below, then please check this page on which all the subsequent reports until 2004 have been grouped. 

Tim Murray visited in October 2008 and you can read his brief report (26th October 2008), Stephan Thierfelder was here later in the month (30th December 2008) and Tim was back again in October 2009 (added 10th November 2009).

Robin Patrick was part of a comprehensive tour organised by Enthusiast Holidays/LCGB in May 2007. You can read his illustrated report (29th June 2007). James Waite was here in November 2007 (25th November 2007) and I have appended Tim Murray's report of a visit made at the same time (19th December 2007). For the latest (illustrated) report, Alex Gillieron was here at the end of February 2008 and was blessed with excellent weather (11th March 2008). Alex reported 55-99 under repair and by late September 2009 Zoran Veresic reported it was out running, its first steaming in 35 years - it will be used on special trains for visiting tour parties (added 9th November 2009)

Steve Newman is the latest in a long trickle of visitors to see the most authentic surviving European real steam (27th March 2007). To which I have added a couple of pictures from Pavel Randák who found active steam at Breza and Kakanj in January 2007 (23rd May 2007) 

Keith Chambers was at Banovici works and Oskova washery on 24th August 2006 where 25-33 and 62-125 were working (27th October 2006). James Waite was in Banovici in November 2005, real working steam is alive and well here (14th December 2005). 

For an historical look at the 760mm gauge railways of the former Yugoslavia visit this site - http://www.penmorfa.com/JZ/index.htm. Similarly visit this non-English forum -  http://www.zeljeznice.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2726&start=150, thanks to Milorad Kom for this (added 6th June 2007).

Cyprus Index

Hugh Ballantyne reports on a nostalgic visit to see what remains of Cyprus Railways (11th March 2004). James Waite elaborates (including pictures) with more details of the remains of the Cyprus Mines Corporation railway (9th December 2006), this report has since been updated (28th March 2009).

Czech Republic Index

Kevin Hoggett has sent me some pictures of the ZOS Ceske Velenice railway works in the Czech Republic, with a preserved 475 under repair but more interestingly, a blacksmith's shop with working steam hammers (19th May 2006).

Regular JiTong (China) correspondent Hans Schaefer tells me he has put up a section on Czech locomotives on his home page (21st December 2000).

Roland Beier reports "At Usti nad labem there is a chemical plant which still uses two fireless steam locos: No.200/201, both are 0-6-0F and were built at Meiningen in 1988 (the usual ex-DDR design)." Now Jakob Stilling has sent this picture of one of them crossing the road between the two parts of the factory in April 2005 (added 9th March 2006).

Christian Oboth reports on festivities:"150 years of Prerov-Ostrava-Bohumin line. On May 1st to 4th 1997, the anniversary of the electrified mainline was celebrated with 475.1142 and 498.106 on specials (and some plandampfs) Prerov - Bogumin, further specials Ostrava hl.nadr.- Ostrava Stred - Ostrava Kuncice - Bohumin by 433.002, 354.1217 and 464.202, and Ostrava hl.nadr.- Josefova Jama coalmine by 313.423 and 423.041. At Josefova Jama, enthusiasts were surprised by steaming 328.011 and 310.911. Loco exhibition at Ostrava presented all the running engines, ÖBB- „liancon", PKP - Ol 12.7, Pm 36.2, Ok22.31 and Tr 5.65. The only steam loco at Bohumin was 477.060. Outside the station, a very derelict 475 is dumped."

Bryan Acford visited for Steam Charters in September 1997.

Estonia Index

James Waite visited the Estonian Museum Railway, Lavassaare in July 2009 (25th July 2009).

Finland Index

Harvey Smith was based he and sent me a survey of preserved steam in the country (23rd May 2007). This precipitated an email which brought news of two preserved "steam engines/tractors" formerly used for log haulage (29th May 2007). I also have a report from James Waite of a visit to the preserved narrow gauge Jokioisten Railway (22nd August 2007).

Georgia Index

News of this former part of the Soviet Union is thin on the ground. I have no reason to believe there is any active steam here but John Athersuch has sent some pictures of steam survivors here (6th February 2004). 

Further information on possible industrial steam, and definite steam survivors in Georgia (Caucasus) has now been sent by Torsten Schneider, the following observations were made during a trip between July 27 and August 9, 2005. The information on the steam survivors is given as an addendum to John Athersuch's original report (Torsten's pictures added, 8th October 2005).

In the summer 2005 issue of Georgian Airways' inflight journal there is an article featuring the ferro-alloys plant in Zestaponi in Western Georgia, one of Georgia's biggest industrial units. I was intrigued by a note under the heading "Upgrading" saying, I quote: "..., three rail steam engines have been purchased, ...". Not expecting to be allowed into the plant, we (my Georgian guides and myself) nevertheless tried. While waiting for a head engineer's permission I heard steam whistles several times (naturally not necessarily from locos), and nobody we talked to dismissed our repetitive mentioning of "steam" locomotives (if that is what my guides hopefully said). Eventually we were not allowed inside, but we were told that all locos they have cross a public road where I would be allowed to take pictures (and had already taken one of a TGM4, a typical Soviet industrial diesel loco). On the other side of the road there is a small depot, again on company ground (no photos, but we were allowed in), where I saw more TGM4s, and no facilities for steam locos whatsoever. We were told that TGM4s had recently been acquired second-hand from the Ukraine. Thus, the situation seems clear, no steam. 

There is a website on narrow gauge railways on the territory of the former Soviet Union (www.parovoz.com/narrow/indexe.php) which is referred to in Torsten's report. It carries descriptions of the rolling stock (e.g. on class Gr under www.parovoz.com/narrow/Gr.html) as well as on lines (e.g. on Georgia excluding Abrazia under www.parovoz.com/narrow/GE.php). Unfortunately all but the title page is only in Russian, and I can therefore decipher only fractions. It is part of a general website about railways in the C.I.S. (English title page http://parovoz.com/indexe.php), which among other items carries information about the more than 1000 steam survivors in the C.I.S.

Germany Index

Andreas Illert reports on a situation that blurs the distinction between working steam and preserved steam (27th May 2006): "Concerning working steam in Germany, there has been a very interesting situation in Thueringen recently. As to privatisation of railway operations, a call for tender was issued to transport wood from Schleusingen via Meiningen to Eisenach, about once a week from February to the end of April. The contract was won by the railway enthusiast group of Eisenach. Obviously steam is competitive, with high prices for diesel and staff costs for the volunteer crew at a reasonable level. 52.8075 2-10-0 then worked the 1200-tons-trains without operational difficulties, over quite steep grades and in weather conditions changing from snow to wet spring over the period. Pictures can be viewed on the Web page of Steffen Tautz: http://www.bilderbogen.com/tautz/holzzug/holzzug1.htm and http://www.bilderbogen.com/tautz/holzzug/holzzug2.htm.

For some time this country has been covered occasionally under Plandampf. David Thornhill (19th March 2003) has gently chastised me for not promoting the steam on the various narrow gauge systems of the former East Germany, some of which can fairly be regarded as very real. Read his review of the services (updated 14th December 2003). Bryan Benn's home page http://www.germansteam.co.uk/ (amended 2nd September 2007) covers Germany in general, with a proper plandampf site http://www.plandampf.co.uk (new address 1st April 2005) with regular information on upcoming Plandampf and other Sonderzug. Good news for visitors with limited German language skills!

Louis Cerny has visited the well known Harz lines and has sent a short report (10th November 2003). Louis also reports on an unusual gauge narrowing on this railway with consequential new steam service (9th April 2006): "The Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen will formally open its new line from Quedlinburg to Gernrode (converted from 1435mm to 1000mm gauge) on April 8th with a special 5 hr 33 min trip from Quedlinburg to Brocken using three steam locomotives. My understanding is that a regular service of three steam round trips per day (plus additional railcar trips) between Quedlinburg and Gernrode will start June 26, and that test steam trains have operated since March 4th." Louis also tells me the welcome news (1st December 2008) that at long last the Freital-Hainsberg - Dippoldiswalde - Kipsdorf "Weißeritztalbahn" will have re-opened as far as Dippoldiswalde on 14th December 2008 with 6 trains a day each way, for a timetable see http://www.weisseritztalbahn.de/. 

Roland Beier points out that when the long trumpeted transfer of the Radebeul Ost-Radeburg line occurs (expected in December 2003, again in April 2004 and now most likely in May 2004) then this will finally bring to an end scheduled steam on DB. (7th April 2004). Andreas Illert adds (8th September 2004) - the transfer of the Radebeul-Radeburg line from DB to BVO Bahn GmbH (the operator of the Cranzahl-Oberwiesental line) happened on June 21, so scheduled steam on DB is over (once again after 1977).

Hungary Index

Colin Young has sent some pictures of the Hungarian Railway Musuem in Budapest. (27th December 2008).

Iceland Index

Iceland must be the only country in the world to have preserved 100% of its steam fleet. James Waite reports on his visit to see both locomotives. (14th August 2008).

Italy Index

Information (in English) on Italian steam has never been easy to come by for as long as I can remember. Now Stefan Paolini has provided a wealth of information which will be of great use to potential visitors (first posted 21st August 2008):

• An introduction to Italian Railway Heritage and Preservation
• An outline guide to heritage sites (including steam specials scheduled for September/October 2008)
• A detailed Regional Guide to Italian Heritage Steam - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

• A gloomy Italian steam update (4^th March 2009)

James Waite also provided a report of his visit to the Naples Railway Museum (first referred to on the museums page, 28th February 2008) and a day out with 625.177 near Milan in May 2008 (22nd August 2008). He has also been to Sardinia for steam in May 2009 (17th June 2009).

Kosovo Index

Earlier reports will be found under Serbia, the only location where active steam can be found in Kosovo is the coal mine of Obiliq (Serbian: Obilic) 10 km northwest of Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo with its three 62 class locos. Roland Beier was here in January 2002 and Mark Blount-Stonham in June 2003. Read what they found (11th June 2003). Torsten Schneider found things very quiet in March 2007 (2nd April 2007). James Waite was here in October 2008 and you can read his report (14th November 2008).

Latvia Index

There are several museums here with steam locomotive exhibits and at least two operational preserved narrow gauge steam railways. Click here for a report on a visit here from James Waite (updated 25th July 2009).

Lithuania Index

There are three preserved narrow gauge steam locomotives in the country. Click here for a report on a visit here from James Waite (9th August 2007). On 20th September 2009, temporarily borrowed Estonian Kch4-332 worked a special train to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Panevezys - Anyksciai narrow gauge line. James Waite's picture shows it passing over the broad gauge mainline near Panevezys station (added 26th September 2009).

Macedonia Index

There are a number of preserved steam locomotives in the country, see http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/mk/steam/pix.html. I would appreciate more information! (added 24th May 2007). James Waite was here in October 2008 and you can read his report (14th November 2008).

Moldova Index

A new country courtesy of Frank Engel (15th October 2000). At Ungheni I found some class TE engines still in use for heating in the depot! I also observed an engine of class Er, but I couldn't check out the numbers, because I was caught by the police immediately (border area!)... Henry Posner III adds (15th September 2001) "4 weeks ago I was able to ride CFM Tiraspol-Chisinau and Beltsy-Chisinau. I was hoping to find a strategic reserve of steam locos at Ungheni en route from Beltsy (CFM crew interviewed said that in 1985 steam training occurred there in case of war) but consistent with Frank Engel's report all that's left are 2 2-10-0s and 1 0-10-0 at Ungheni diesel shop, all unnumbered and apparently in use for steam heating, plus 1 green 2-10-0 about a mile north of the station on steam heating duty inside a factory on the west side of the line from Beltsy. The 'preserved' steam loco referenced in the Quail rail atlas of Moldova/Ukraine at Beltsy has disappeared."

There are at least three preserved steam locomotives in the country, see http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/md/steam/pix.html. I would appreciate more information! (added 24th May 2007).

Montenegro Index

There are just two (preserved) steam locomotives in the country. James Waite went to see them in September 2008, read his report (4th October 2008).

Norway Index

James Waite has provided yet another delightful pen picture of a preserved narrow gauge steam operation ”Tertitten” - The Urskog-Hølandsbanen Railway (added 31st August 2007). And for the world's most northerly (preserved steam) train, read about the railways of Spitzbergen (30th August 2008).

Poland Index

For information on the Wolsztyn Experience check out http://www.thewolsztynexperience.org/, as of the beginning of 2009 the organisation faces many problems but its mere survival is extremely welcome; I can't keep up to speed with events here as this site is currently not available in China. For the background to the Wolsztyn Experience see this excellent video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZzRhsGWFOw (7th January 2009). 

Wolsztyn  has been the centre of a working steam museum railway for as long as most of us care to remember but now it seems it may be almost all over (16th June 2008). PKP has removed steam from the Wolsztyn - Poznan line and by mid-June there was just one steam working a day Wolsztyn - Rezno and even that was only a temporary reprieve until July 4th 2008 with a subsidy from the Wolsztyn Experience. See http://polishrail.wordpress.com/ and linked stories for the grisly details, a site which, unfortunately, is not available to me directly in China although good friends have mailed me the relevant text. It seems that maybe there is some politicking going on here between the railway which derives little direct financial benefit from the steam operation (probably quite the reverse) and the local authority which benefits indirectly from the tourism it generates. It underlines that these days, with very few exceptions, just about any kind of steam operation in the world  is definitely a 'luxury item' which has to compete in the market. Later news is that following discussions between all the parties involved, a reduced steam service will resume on 1st October 2008, this being supposedly guaranteed for 8 months and will include trains to Poznan and Lezno (21st June 2008). Louis Cerny reports that at the beginning of July, he saw four locomotives in steam over a period of a week with steam haulage to Lezno only, with Poznan services supposedly to resume after the summer break (9th July 2008). It is not just the operation at Wolsztyn which is under threat. John Raby (24th June 2008) has alerted me to the fact that the railway has instigated a scrap drive - understandable for well represented types in 'Barry' condition, less so for a plinthed locomotive. See http://polishrail.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/7-steam-engines-on-death-row/ for more information.

Alexandre Gillieron sends some depressing news (14th November 2009):

"There are actually only three steam locomotives available at Wolsztyn for timetable line workings with the following boiler expiry dates :

Ol49-7, exp. 06/2011, Ol49-59, exp. 06/2010, Pt47-65, exp. 04/2011

Not fit anymore for line working, the ex-Prussian Tr5-65 may get an extension of its boiler certificate for another six months, theoretically this engine should have been written off this month (November 2009). Polish 4-6-0 Ok22-31 and Prussian Ok1-359 have already been out of use for months and a repair of one of these historic engines is unlikely...

The repair shop at Gniezno has finally been closed down with some equipment going to Leszno, where Polish 'Pacific' Pm36-2 is also stored waiting repairs. From now the Leszno shed should perform small boiler and mechanical repairs on the Wolsztyn engines, but owing to the decision of PKP-Cargo to eliminate any costs for steam operations, this means more or less the end of regular PKP steam, it's maybe just a question of months before its final demise.

Another bad sign for steam operations around Wolsztyn is the start of the upgrade work on the Poznan line by next year. The allowed speed should be raised to 100 km/h and the infrastructure modernized, leaving no chance for the steam trains to operate. The only hope could be to re-opening of the Sulechow or Nowa Sol lines, introducing a pure museum-operation , but again this is a major financial problem and only a private or local funding would allow it.

Concerning former steam shed at Gniezno, there are now plans to destroy the two historical Prussian half-roundhouses and to convert the complete site to a mall/supermarket complex - no comment needed ! There are also rumours that the site may be kept and house the existing Warszaw PKP museum engines. Indeed the site at Warszaw (former main station closed down during the late 60's) may be cleared in order to make room for future road extensions (anyone who h as visited Poland recently has certainly noted the definitive 'supremacy' of road traffic, both individual and trucking, turning most of the roads of this country into one of the worst driving nightmares one could imagine...)"

I have never tried to cover the activities here in great detail because effectively Poland is part of mainstream western Europe these days and as Wolsztyn  is so well known in enthusiast circles. For more information (in German) try http://www.parowozy.com.pl/indexd.html (or http://www.parowozy.com.pl for the original Polish version) - this link amended 29th May 2007).

I have now moved all my Polish reports which are now very dated. Click as appropriate:

• 1998 reports
• Early 1999 reports 
• Late 1999/2000 reports 
• 2001 reports

Colin Young has sent some pictures of his visit to the Chabowka Railway Musuem which has many steam exhibits in June 2008. (24th December 2008)

For other reports/information, check out David Longman's Gallery and Wolsztyn steam trains (a little dated with 2005 timetable)

Nick Lera Video: Europe's Last Stronghold of Steam Now on DVD!

Portugal Index

Portugal is not one of my 'traditional' countries, but I have a report from James Waite of his visit to the south of the country for some interesting industrial steam survivors at Lousal and Aljustrel (24th December 2008). James returned in January 2009 to visit a couple of the country's railway museums near Lisbon (6th March 2009). James had a rapid return and reported on a day out in the Porto area (14th March 2009)

Metre gauge Mallet E214 has been serviceable in recent years but a combination of fire bans, gauge conversions and sundry other problems have severely limited operation. The last report of it I have was that it had been "moved from Regua to Guifoes works for inspection" in April 2007, by September 2007 it was back in Regua where there were 5 other Mallets in fair condition (report by Trevor Heath - click here for pictures - added 4th October 2007).

Romania Index

If you have a serious interest in the Romanian Forestry lines, you ought to have copies of the two classic books "Walder und Dampf".

John Raby's 2008 visit to Viseu de Sus on DVD,

Apart from occasional (expensive) standard gauge steam charters, interest here centres on the narrow gauge forestry heritage, with the Viseu de Sus system still operational in 2007, although the Far Rail newsletter stated in October 2007 that steam hauled logging trains had not run for some time and steam was only used on tourist trains (27th October 2007).

Ameling Algra points out (21st June 2004), an excellent German language website covering the Romanian forestry lines - http://www.wassertalbahn.ch/. Click here for information an appeal to restore 764.211 for the Viseu de Sus system (29th March 2005). The line was badly damaged by floods in July 2008 and will remain closed for some while until it can be rebuilt - see http://www.wassertalbahn.ch/ and click on 'news' for the latest information (12th August 2008). The Farrail newsletter (May 2009) states that the line has now been largely rebuilt and is 'open for business', good news indeed (30th May 2009).

Henry Posner III has suggested I pass on information from Ing. Vasile Muresan, the General Manager of the 16 February workshops. One of their specialities is steam (both overhaul and - so far for light railways - new construction) so check out http://www.remarul.gmi.ro/ (added 11th December 2001).

There are a number of reports charting the final decline of the forestry railways:

• Summary page reports for 1996-8
• My own trip mainly to Covasna (including the Siclau incline at work) and Viseu de Sus in 1998 (lovely pics, dare I say it)
• Hans Hufnagel has sent me a list of Romanian locomotives exported since 1994 (updated 22nd August 2007).
• Viseu de Sus Railway in the 21st century (last report 28th April 2005)

After closure in October 1999 (last train October 7th), the Siclau Association was set up to conserve and hopefully preserve as much as possible of the Covasna system including the Siclau incline.

I believe that the only standard gauge steam locomotive apart from specials in regular use in 1997 was N3 404 (0-6-0T) at Covasna which shunted on most days. Roland Beier added: "A friend of mine visited the Arad area early in March (1997) and found two CFR class 50 shunting at Curtici and Arad: 50.541 and 50.558. This might have been a temporary measure to overcome a local shortage of diesels on short notice but anyone passing Curtici (the border station to Hungary) and Arad by train is invited to take a close look and find out if these workings continue."  Greg Howells tells me that there are lists of extant locos in the country on http://www.railfaneurope.net/list/romania.html and http://www.railfaneurope.net/list/europe.html. Click here for information on plans to run standard gauge tourist trains (information received on 8th September 2004, updated 13th September 2004). 

Serbia Index

There will be a short tour of Serbia (and Bosnia) from 28th April to 5th May in association with the 2010 Fedecrail Conference in Budapest. Click here for more information.

Steam in Serbia survives in a number of industrial locations where they are now pretty well used to visitors. The original list included Kostolac, Svetozarevo, Carriage Factory, Smederevo, Paper factory Cacak, sugar factory at Cuprija, Loznica, Lucani, Vreoci, Jagodina, Resavica, Smederevo, Kraljevo. Of course, there have been casualties as covered in the later reports. Also of note is the Sargan Mountain Railway / Mokra Gora museum, also for basic information http://www.zlatibor.co.yu/voz/english/--%20sarganska8%20--.htm. 

First you need to read the the base reports for Serbian steam:

• Most original reports  from 1997 to 2001, including a full list of steam sites with pictures, note that later Kosovo reports are now on a separate part of this page.
• Original reports 2002 -2004
• Keith Chester's reports - February 1998, first ever steam tour, (illustrated) November 1998

Henry Posner III has send me some pictures of preserved steam at the large steelworks USS-Smederevo (30th May 2009).

Robin Patrick was part of a comprehensive tour organised by Enthusiast Holidays/LCGB in May 2007. You can read his illustrated report (29th June 2007). James Waite was here in November 2007 (25th November 2007)  and I have appended Tim Murray's report of a visit made at the same time (19th December 2007). And James went back again for what is now really the tail end of steam in Serbia in April 2009 (23rd April 2009)

Steve Newman was the latest in a long trickle of visitors to see the most authentic surviving European real steam (27th March 2007). James Waite was in Kostolac in November 2005, real working steam is alive and well here (14th December 2005), a friend of Trevor Heath visited in October 2006, nothing was moving but operation was scheduled to restart on 16th November 2006 (added 27th October 2006). Steven Pratt visited Kostolac with a group from the Railway Touring Company in August 2005 and found just 13 in use (added 6th October 2005).

For an historical look at the 760mm gauge railways of the former Yugoslavia visit this site - http://www.penmorfa.com/JZ/index.htm.

For many narrow gauge pictures of Serbian narrow gauge see this site - http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/sp/narrow_gauge/pix.html.

Slovakia Index

A casual (non-enthusiast) visitor found a (green) museum locomotive which appeared to be a 477 4-8-4T shunting at Poprad. I am not sure if this counts as 'real' or not! (23rd August 2001).

Colin Young attended a steam festival in Bratislava in June 2008, a large number of locomotives were in steam, a sign that rail tours on the main line here may have a healthier future than elsewhere (24th December 2008).

Slovenia Index

James Waite was here in March 2008 and reported on his visit to the railway museum and the working fireless at the Ljubljana power station (18th March 2008).

Robin Patrick was part of a comprehensive tour organised by Enthusiast Holidays/LCGB in May 2007. You can read his illustrated report (29th June 2007).

Jonathan Allen travelled in the former Yugoslavia Tour (20-25 July 2003) - read his report (31st August 2003).

Keith Chester writes: (11th April 1997): "Have just heard from Walter Rothschild, who tells me that the 0-6-0F at Ljubljana power station is still there and he thought it was still in use. So one more for your fireless collection!" Continental Railway Journal 132 records that it was still at work in June 2002.(19th December 2002). Olivier Foiche tells me (12th May 2004) 0-6-0 fireless engine LBV 04 was shunting at Ljubljana in late March 2004, Rob Fraser confirms it was at work in mid-September 2005 (16th September 2005).

Spain Index

The Rio Tinto museum and railway is definitely not real, but a fascinating reminder of what must have been a fabulous industrial system in its heyday. James Waite was here in April 2009 for one of the few days in the year when the operational railway uses steam, (23rd April 2009). For a list of preserved steam locomotive is Spain, see this comprehensive site http://www.locomotoravapor.com/index.htm (16th January 2010).

Sweden Index

Please see my European narrow gauge steam page for various links to such preserved railways, (latest update, 12th November 2009)

Switzerland Index

The Rhätische Bahn Steamblower may not run more than once a year but arguably it constitutes real steam. James Waite followed up his 2008 visit to the railway with an excursion to see the snowblower in action in March 2009. (6th March 2009).

Click here for James Waite's report on his visit to the Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke in September 2009, a spectacular (part) rack metre gauge railway with some pretty well travelled steam locomotives (11th November 2009).

Please also see my European narrow gauge steam page for various links to such preserved railways.

Turkey Index

More than 10 years ago, I said that It was not impossible that steam survives in one or two industrial locations....  That can't be true now. Just look out for large dumps of locos and occasional tourist trains.  But this site http://www.trainsofturkey.com/index.htm contains a mass of information on the railways of Turkey and is essential reading for anyone interested in its railways (16th September 2005), backed up by this steam picture gallery http://www.1974.trainsofturkey.com/index.htm (added 12th August 2009). In particular the list of 'preserved' (maybe 'reserved') steam locomotives on this page - http://www.trainsofturkey.com/w/pmwiki.php/Steam/PreservedSteam, notably in the railway museums at Camlik and Ankara. Jochen Ickert visited Usak on 21st June 2007 and confirmed the status of many of the steam locomotives on the list (updated 12th September 2007). Terry Wallace has reported on his 2009 visit which broadly confirms previous reports (31st August 2009).

The various verbal (and occasional email) reports I have of tours and attempted tours to Turkey in the last few years would be enough to put a lot of people off ever trying again. However, Vic Allen (Enthusiast Holidays) and his local contact went to visit TCDD HQ and it seemed that at long last they were prepared to take such a venture more seriously and prepare properly for it. Read Vic's report of the visit and consequent action (27th December 2002). Alas all came to nothing and a proposed tour in 2004 was again cancelled (20th November 2004).

Christoph Oboth joined a steam tour (of Asian Turkey) in September 1999. Read his report (4th October 1999). John Raby tells me (17th December 1999): "Despite tailoring their tour of Turkey to where most of the engines are kept - Usak, a Japanese group recently abandoned plans for a New Year 2000 tour of Western Turkey based on Usak when they were promised only one loco (a Kreigslok) for their tour. They had been ready to go if they could have a Krieg, the Stephenson 46105 and a G8 or G10. At the point of initial discussion, these locos had been suggested by the Turks along with the Henschel based at Afyon. One Krieg that might give up on the first day for any number of reasons with nothing else in reserve is no basis on which to run a tour. Not surprisingly, the tour will not run. TCDD needs to do something about this situation otherwise there will be no more tours of Turkey behind steam."

Further to this I hear from Johs. Damsgaard Hansen (13th October 2000): "For your information there have been two steam specials in Turkey late September/early October 2000 organized by Intraexpress (one week) and Dietmar Kramer (three days). However both tours suffered from the disastrous steam situation at the TCDD. Only two locomotives, a "Kriegslok" and the "Skyliner" could be used, which probably may mean the end to steam specials in Turkey."

James Waite has sent a report on the preserved railway attractions of Istanbul, which includes the Rahmi M Koç museum, Istanbul (added 2nd October 2007). Richard Foster has added an update (29th January 2010) which indicates that narrow gauge steam will soon be running in the heart of Istanbul.

Ukraine Index

Roland Beier writes: "When I visited Korolewo (around 60 km east of Csop, which is the border station to Hungary and Slovakia) in winter 1995/96 they still had a Er class in steam for shunting." There was a lot of publicity about a return to steam here - what has happened? Of course, there are regular steam railtours with the museum fleet..... David Huntbatch joined a New Year 2003/4 tour and gives a brief illustrated overview (28th January 2004). Henry Posner II I adds (7th November 2005): "While visiting Chernovitsi on Sunday October 23rd 2005 I was surprised to hear a steam whistle. Subsequent discussion with shed staff indicated that 3 steam locos are available for tourist work. On shed were L-5141, L-3535, both cold, leading me to assume that a third L was working a tourist charter. Also noted was dumped Er 799-82 and an unidentified but possibly serviceable narrow gauge 0-8-0 on blocks (gauges were intact in cab but paint blistered on both sides: at the front of the loco "159" was noted as part of its number)."

Since when even the museum operation has ground to a halt with a grand 'last steam tour' in 2008.

Fireless Locos (including Americas and Asia) Index

A while back, Brian Rumary came up with a surprisingly long list of such locos in Germany and Austria. Check it out. For a report of visits to all known German fireless locations see http://mysite.freeserve.com/dingleyspages/travel_reports/germany2002/germany.htm (11th January 2003). Andreas Illert has provided an updated illustrated list of known German fireless operations (updated 8th May 2008).

See also the Czech Republic (updated 9th March 2006) and Slovenia (updated 18th March 2008) above. Finally, how many Cuba visitors saw the 'new' fireless 1664 at mill 520 Noel Fernandez (see the 1999 Cuba report for a picture)? 1664 was at work in February 2002, the only fireless active during this Zafra (22nd March 2002), but the firelesses at Brasil Mill were reported to be going strong in both the 2007 and 2008 Zafra seasons (2nd June 2008). Harry Valentine came up with proposals for a 21st Century Fireless Steam Locomotive (12th November 2000). After a long break it was good to hear (10th January 2002) that at least one of the firelesses at Benxi steelworks in China was still running in April 2001.

The last active firelesses in Asia at Semboro Sugar Mill in Java, Indonesia (10th January 2002) were working again during the 2008 season (updated 28th May 2008).

Plandampf Index

This site has never claimed to offer up-to-date information, what is here is believed correct with on the dates given, corrections are always welcome!. This information is repeated on a separate page (now of historical interest only).

Good news (27th May 2003) for English speaking enthusiasts is that UK contact David Sprackland is now on Email (address revised 10th January 2009). See also Bryan Benn's home page - http://www.germansteam.info, he also has a proper Plandampf site http://www.plandampf.co.uk (new address 1st April 2005). 

There is now a proper German Language site run by LoRi although it offers a regular English language newsletter - see http://www.plandampfteam.de (added 3rd August 2007), see also Revierdampf's page (English and German) http://www.revierdampf.de (added 10th January 2009).