The first of this year’s series of Open Days was one of its kind. Usually, we report the significant attendance of visitors during the events which bring much more people to Skierniewice – the Night of Museums or the Festival of Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables. This time we broke the record of attendance during the classic Open Day when the Shed is the only target for tourists. On 5^th May 607 people has visited us. We are also glad to report that the sixth of this number took advantage of the special offer for free return by Łódź Metropolitan Railway (ŁKA). Thank you!

From time to time we travel across the border to see how others deal with their railway history and to have a break from our own renovation activities. Our usual direction is Czechia due to the language similarities and the fact that that some of us just fell in love with this country. The common travels are also a form of gratitude to our most active volunteers.

During the weekend of 21^st and 22^nd April we took part in an excursion to the directly neighbouring with Poland Moravian-Silesian province. Our first target was the still operational Třemešná ve Slezsku – Osoblaha narrow-gauge railway. For the younger generation of our volunteers it was paradoxically the first exposure to a narrow-gauge railway still doing its normal work – carrying passengers and goods all year round for the benefit of the local small towns. By the way we could see our colleagues from Slezské zemské dráhy (operating seasonal tourist trains) in action.

The next day we devoted to visit Železniční muzeum moravskoslezské located in the part of the Ostrava střed railway station. The highlight of this visit was to learn more of the driving simulator of the class 742. We intend to build a similar attraction at our shed and we were eager to learn about the experiences of other in this field. The museum also hosts a permanent exhibition of railway signalling and temporary exhibitions regarding the history of railways.

The last highlight of the trip was a visit to the historic coal mine Důl Michal. We were amazed by a pristine condition of the ground-level buildings of the mine. They look hasn’t changed from the time of closing down the facility back in 1993. It’s a great example to support the realistic contrary modern approach in technical and industrial museums.

We renew our cooperation with Łódź Commuters Railway (ŁKA). On the same rules as in the previous year, the travellers visiting Skierniewice can return back with ŁKA train to their departure point for free. The only condition is to have your one-way ŁKA ticket stamped in the Shed. The offer is valid only during the following days:

• 5^th May – Open Day,
• 19^th May – Railway Night of Museums,
• 2^nd June – Children’s Day in Engine Shed,
• 7^th July – Open Day,
• 4^th August – Open Day,
• 1^st September – Open Day,
• 15^th and 16^th September – The Festival of Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables in Skierniewice,
• 6^th October – Open Day.

Since couple of years, with the beginning of Spring we travel to Upper Silesia to participate in a special event. From 13^th to 14^th April we took part in the 10th International Fairs of Industrial Heritage and Underground Tourism which took place in Zabrze’s Sports Hall. This year we shared our stand with colleagues from the Association of Upper Silesia Narrow Gauge Railroads. This way, in one place the visitors could learn about the offer and history of our engine shed and the longest continuously operational narrow-gauge in Poland connecting Bytom with Miasteczko Śląskie.

We regret to inform that our colleague, Andrzej Szadkowski, has pass away on 30^th March 2018. We would like to express our condolences to his son and our former volunteer, Jakub.

We would like to wish to our fans, visitors and supporters a peaceful and joyful Easter.

Members, volunteers and the board of the Polish Association of Railway Enthusiasts

An exceptionally cold and snowy March didn’t provided much opportunities for outdoor activities. Just on the last weekend (24^th to 25^th March) were we able to begin the long planned improvements in Shed’s track infrastructure. This year we will take care of the most dilapidated track leading from the turntable to the roundhouse’s stand № 12. The first day gave us hints that a hard work awaits us – some of track screws are rusted solid and some were hidden under a thick layer of concrete at the entrance to the roundhouse.

The works, supported by the President of City of Skierniewice, will be continued on 14^th and 15^th April. If you would like to help us, please contact us at wolontariat@psmk.org.pl.

From 16^th to 18^th March we promoted our Shed during the 24th Fairs of Regional Tourism “Where cultures meet”. The visitors of the fairs could find us at the Łódź International Fair hall at Politechniki Street 4, where we had our stand. Contrary to previous years, this time we were the only representatives from Skierniewice. Traditionally, we were dressed in the historical railway uniforms.

During the fairs we took the time to not only promote our facility but also to refresh the old acquaintance and establish new contacts.

See you again, Łódź, in a year. And still this year we will be present on one more fairs – in Zabrze.

Photo by C. Chlubek-Adamczyk (Museum in Rybnik)

On 14^th and 15^th March our colleagues Judyta Kurowska-Ciechańska and Ariel Ciechański (representing also the department of Geography and Landscape Planning of the Polish Academy of Science) took part in the conference „History on sightseeing routes”. The conference was organized by the Museum in Rybnik and the University’s of Silesia Institute of History in Katowice. Our representatives gave a lecture “Engine Shed Skierniewice as inspiration with railway history for tourists”. The event was not only an opportunity to promote our Shed but also to learn of invaluable experiences of other similar facilities.

One of our steam engines – class Tp3-36 – was serving as a stationary monument in Zbąszynek, far away from Skierniewice. A matter of distance seriously restricted our control over the engine. Due to the lack of fund for the purpose, we were not able to relocate it to the Shed. Fortunately, a couple of months ago, a branch of Polish Army Museum – the Museum of Armoured Arms – become interested in the engine. The museum is preparing a new exhibition and is looking for a locomotive typical for the Greater Poland area during the early years of inter-war period.

Soon we were contacted and started talking about the future fate of the locomotive. On 22^nd February the engine was moved on the tracks of Zbąszynek station and carefully shunted to the shed of Koleje Wielkopolskie, where it will undergo an external renovation. The feat was possible thanks to the invaluable help of Koleje Wielkopolskie and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.. It was also a great opportunity for the crews of Emergency Trains from Poznań and Zielona Góra to exercise a re-railing of a vehicle. Once the renovation will be completed, the engine will be transported to the museum in Poznań. It will become a deposit-exhibit of our Shed.

Photo: D. Kiper, J. Czerwiński

We would like to express our gratitude to all involved in the relocation and our colleagues from Średzka Kolej Dojazdowa, who helped in preparation of the engine for relocation.