The conference “Conservation of railway heritage in Poland. History, resources, problems and perspectives” took place on 27^th March. The conference was organized by the Senate of Poland, PKP CARGO S.A. and the Institute of Science History from Polish Academy of Science. The aim of the conference was to discuss the possibility to improve the state of railway heritage conservation and their adaptation to a new function, based on the examples from our country and abroad.

We presented the following papers:

Revitalization and adaptation of railway objects for museum purposes on example of Skierniewice Engine Shed – led by Judyta Kurowska-Ciechańska.

Till it is not to late – disappearing resources of historical railway architecture, signalling and communication – referring to the increasing need of conservation of railway heritage other than just rolling stock, led by Michał Jerczyński.

Our colleagues were also representing other organizations and provided following lectures:

dr hab. Zbigniew Tucholski (Institute of Science History from Polish Academy of Science): Problems of railway heritage conservation in Poland. A concept of National Railway Museum.

Dr Ariel Ciechański (Institute of Geography and Spatial Development from Polish Academy of Science) together with Filip Bebenow (WGiG UAM): Crowbar put in engine’s wheels. Obstacles in development of railway tourism in Poland. How to overcome them.

Both colleagues Ariel Ciechański and Filip Bebenow took an active part in the organization of the conference.

We would like to invite you on 8^th and 9^th April (Saturday-Sunday) to the Volunteers Camp organized by our association in Skierniewice Engine Shed. A highlight of this camp will be continuation of renovation track works on track № 56, supported by City of Skierniewice. The works will involve disassembling of rails and replacing old ties. The project is addressed to all above 15 years old who would like to invest their free time in activity helping in conservation of national technical heritage,

We start the works at 100 AM on Saturday and Sunday till 6 PM. Hot meal provided. In case of unfavourable weather, an indoor renovation activities are planned.

We provide for the participants:

• return of travel costs to and from Skierniewice (2^nd class of commuter or long-distance train or the respective bus communication equivalent, based on the original ticket or a printout of electronic ticket);
• overnight stay in social area of Engine Shed (in case of large number of participants, we will organize overnight stay outside of Engine Shed);
• drinking water and meals;
• work clothing and safety equipment;
• tools;
• participation certificate if requested.

Due to the limited capacity of our social back-room and the need to adapt the work plan and prepare the right amount of equipment, we would like to ask all interested to declare their preferences in advance by a means of following form.

In 2010 a small shunting diesel engine class Ls40-4544 has joined our collection of rolling stock. According to the previous owner, the vehicle was in full working order. Unfortunately, due to other, more important tasks and lack of engine oil, we did not had the opportunity to verify these claims. This winter, a group of our volunteers decided to do a check-up and a first in years start. The efforts resulted in a success. The outer refurbishing will be continued in summer. During the works we made a disappointing discovery – an extra ballast was removed in the past making the engine underweight. In future this may influence its traction so a temporary solution has to be devised.

From Friday 17^th March to Sunday 19^th March we were present in Łódź at the Tourist Fairs “Where Cultures Meet”. One could find us in Łódź International Fairs Hall at Politechnike Alley, at our own, modest but recognizable stand and have the opportunity to chat about the coming tourist season and plans for the future.

At the moment we would like to invite you to yet another fairs which will take place from 7^th to 8^th April in Zabrze. Invited by the city council of Zabrze, we will represent our shed among other industrial tourist attractions at the International Fairs of Industrial Tourism.

We are happy to inform that our project Gatekeeper house as a new exhibit and didactic help in Skierniewice Engine Shed has qualified to the Tesco action “You decide, we help”. Our project intends to create a new outdoor exhibition consisting of a replica of gatekeeper hut (based on State Railways blueprints from 1926) together with level crossing equipment set against the track 63 in the Shed. The hut will have the original furnishing and next to it one will find mechanical boom barriers and manual winch for operating the barriers. New exhibition will become an invaluable didactic help to teach the youngest a proper behaviour on level crossing.

You can vote for our project while shopping in following shops: