We are happy to report that Bank Spółdzielczy from Skierniewice has passed to us a donation of 3500 PLN as a part of own capital required for applying for the funds from Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Thank you!

This year we received a financing from City Council of Skierniewice for the track maintenance – especially replacement of rotted sleepers in the critical for the Shed track № 59. We decided to once again use concrete sleepers as more durable. Due to historical and economical reasons a reused sleepers will be incorporated. After several-weeks search we managed to buy in Wieliszewo near Warsaw complete sleepers of type INKB-4 with fittings which will nicely go with the S-49 profile rails commonly used in the shed. Another couple of weeks was needed to find an affordable transportation.

On Saturday, 9^th July, a whole-day long loading operation was carried out by our volunteers. The cargo reached Skierniewice on 11^th July where it was unloaded with backhoe loader already near the place of future use.

More on the repairs soon!

Open days taking part in June and July were dominated by the exceptionally hot weather. Thankfully it was not a scorching heat that we witnessed a week earlier and the number of visitors was greater – 167 guests visited us on 2^nd July.

Another opportunity to visit the Engine Shed will be on the first Saturday of August.

We would like to inform you that on 4^th July we published the required by law financial reports for the fiscal year 2015. Reports, approved by PARE’s Audit Commision have been submitted to the database of Ministry of Labour and Social Politics and are also available for your review in the 1% section of the Polish version of our website.

The old adage says that store is no sore, but sometimes it may be wrong. It was so during the special Open Day co-organized with Bank Spółdzielczy in Skierniewice on 25^th June. The whether was perfect but the scorching heat of 35 degrees become unbearable to the point of discouraging many visitors from visiting us on that day.

On 11th June a unique event took place in our Shed. Responding to the request of the organizers of the 3^rd Żuk Rally, the area of Engine Shed become the stage of this extraordinary motorization event intended for the owners of vintage Polish cargo cars and vans, namely brands like “Żuk”, “Nysa” and “Tarpan”. According to the organizers, 55 teams took part in the event, incuding the participants of charity rally “Złombol”.

The rally departed from Skierniewice’s market square at 9 AM and, following the local roads, it reached various checkpoints. First teams reached the gates of the Shed at 3:30 PM, last joined us 2 hours later. Many of the cars were actually a disused fire engines or police vans, so from a distance they announced they approach with sirens. Starting from 5PM the event was open to the public, yet only small number of Skierniewice’s citizens decided to visit us on that time. It’s a pity as this was probably one of the most interesting rallies upon river Łupia.

The main yard of the Shed quickly filled up with vintage cars and participants enjoyed the picnic atmosphere, supported by sunny and pleasant afternoon. Simultaneously, everybody were impatiently awaiting the results of the rally and especially the announcement of the top places. The waiting time was used for motorization discussions, quick rest on the lawn or sightseeing of the interiors of the Shed. Many took the opportunity to take part in a very peculiar competition in long push with a… rail brake skate.

After the announcement of results, the teams left the Shed at 7 PM.

We would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of the rally for preparation of such an interesting event.

On 4^th June took place one of the oldest annual events in Skierniewice Shed – Special Open Day for Children which take place on the first Saturday after International Children’s Day. This form of visiting the Shed was available long before regular open days. The perfect weather also attracted many visitors – over 500. The Special Open Day is fitted for the needs of the youngest visitors.

As each year, an exhibition of rolling stock was available to the tourists. Due to the ongoing roof repairs it was a bit more modest than in the previous year. Except the usual rolling stock outdoor exhibits, we presented the battery shunter AEG and 4^th class carriage “Steinfurt”. We were also visited by the youngtimers from the Skierniewice’s Classics group who joined the exhibition. It was also possible to have a tour inside the roundhouse with the guide (an abbridged version of the usual sightseeing route to no to exhaust the youngest visitors).

A very popular place was the exhibition of railway signaling and traffic safety devices where one could try himself in a role of station dispatcher. Another interactive attraction was the digital railway layout prepared and showcased by the models shop LOKO-Model from Warsaw. One could also visits the stands of Bolimów Landscape Park and Łódź Agglomeration Railway. We would like to express our big gratitude to all the partners of the event.

We would like to invite you to another Open Day organized in cooperation with Bank Spółdzielczy, which will take place on Saturday, 25^th July from 11AM to 3 PM.