We would like to invite you to the opening of the after-plein-air exhibition “The Engine Shed in Skierniewice”, which will take place on 25 June at 5PM in photo gallery “Ekspozycja 34” on Zduńska Street 34 in Łowicz
At the turn of May and June, the interior of our reception house was completely refurbished. The building, erected in 1989, is currently the main entrance and visitors reception desk. However, for the long years its fate, as the youngest construction in the Shed, was not so obvious. It was even considered to be knocked down due to the advanced state of disrepair. However, the building appeared very useful during the first ever Open Days in Engine Shed – after emergency repairs of the roof, the reception house could be exploited on each event in the Shed. Yet, the interior called for at least a new coat of paint.
Eventually, we decided it is a high time to refurbish the building. The interior, as well as doors and windows frames were cleaned and repainted. The reception house in its new appearance could be admired for the first time during the last Children’s Day in engine Shed.
Soon we plan to carry out similar works at the volunteers social rooms.
This year’s edition of Children’s Day in Engine Shed (6th July) was joined with the celebrations of 170th anniversary of Warsaw-Vienna Railroad under the common title “WVR for Kids”. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing track repairs on the adjacent railway station, we had to resign from the exhibition of contemporary rolling stock. Nevertheless, we did our best to provide as much attractions for the youngest visitors as possible. It seem that we succeeded – on that day the Shed was visited by 618 guests.
Temporary cutting the Shed off of the main line, limited the visiting contemporary vehicles to the specialist road-rail truck „Unimog” from Railway Maintenance Works in Łódź, which could reach our place by road.
Despite the lack of big locomotives, it was the small handcars that aroused much interest. Soon a queues of those wanting to have a ride formed.
Thanks to the Automobile Club from Łódź an additional attraction were the historical Polish cars, which lately take part in rally around the Łowicz land.
The Moto-Medic Foundation organized a demonstration of the first aid and the Railway Security prepared a talk about the safety on railway crossings.
One could also check the opportunities to spend free time in the nature on the stand of Bolimów’s Scenic Park. Children could play by the drawing corner prepared by Warsaw’s Commuter Railway.
Visitors willing to see the major part of our collection could join two of the guided groups.
We would like to say big thanks to our guests, sponsors and partners.
We would like to invite you on 11th June to the Warsaw’s Museum of Technology (Palace of Culture and Science, Parade Square 1) to the popular-science conference „Heritage of WVR”. The meeting, starting at 10AM, is directed to all those who are interested in the history of the oldest Polish railway – the Warsaw-Vienna Railroad, which celebrates this year the 170th anniversary of the opening of its first section from Warsaw to Grodzisk.
| 9.30 – 10.00 | Registration of participants | |
| 10.00 – 10.15 | Conference opening, introduction | |
| 10.15 – 11.00 | Andrzej Paszke | WVR, railroad to Europe |
| 11.00 – 11.30 | Marek Moczulski | Stanisław Wysocki – the one who built WVR |
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Coffee break | |
| 12.00 – 12.40 | Paweł Mierosławski | From “Warsaw” to “Hannoverian” – first engines of WVR |
| 12.40 – 13.20 | Michał Jerczyński | The architecture of WVR buildings – evolution of style since 1845 |
| 13.20 – 14.00 | Maria Balicka | „On duty and on the station” – railway in life and works of Władysław Reymont |
| 14.00 – 14.30 | End of conference, discussion | |
Free admission.
We would like to invite children with their parents to visit Engine Shed in Skierniewice on 6th June from 11AM to 3PM. The event will be a special issue of open days prepared especially for kids, joining together the International Children’s Day and the 170th anniversary of WVR under common name “Warsaw-Vienna Railroad for Kids”. Guests can visit the Shed individually or in guided groups. The groups, starting at 11.30AM and 1.30PM, will visit the interior of the roundhouse – each visit lasting about 30-40 minutes.
There are more attractions awaiting our visitors:
Exhausted and hungry guests can try delicious grilled dishes served by Atmosfera pizza house.
Free admission!
This year’s season of association’s promotional activity slowly reached its end. The second and final event of this type is past.
On 22nd and 23rd May 2015 we took part in the 7th International Fairs of Industrial Heritage and Underground Tourism. We would like to thank to all those who has visited our stand. We would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of the fairs – the City of Zabrze – for renting us the stand free of charge and for a warm reception.
We’re happy to report that editorial staff of “Stalowe Szlaki” quarterly (“Steel Routes”) took the media patronage of the rebuild of beer refrigerator car. The quarterly is one of the oldest and still present on the market hobby magazines devoted entirely to railways. Thank you!
According to the five-year-long tradition, on the third Saturday of May, the Engine Shed Skierniewice could be visited on nighttime during the European Night of Museums. The initiative began modestly in 2010, when for the first time, together with our colleagues from Rogów-Rawa-Biała Narrow Gauge railway we invited residents of Warsaw to visit us at night. On the following year the audience was broaden to include guests from Łódź. Nevertheless, the attendance of occupants of Skierniewice was nominal and the Shed was the only institution in Skierniewice to participate in the country-wide Night of Museums. With time, local population was more interested in the initiative and so did other cultural institutions from the town upon Łupia River. Last year we fully devoted our offer to the citizens of Skierniewice and individual guest and resigned from the special trains from Łódź and Warsaw. It was also thanks to us that the City Council of Skierniewice organized special bus route which connected all points of interest during this special night. Today, nearly all important institutions and clubs from Skierniewice take part in the Night of Museums and the event itself is participated by hundreds, if not thousands, visitors from Skierniewice and nearby towns.
During short four hours of admittance we were visited by 825 guests who could sightsee several illuminated exhibitions.
Thanks to the perfect weather, we could present our rolling stock collection outdoors. On track № 59 stood the battery shunting engine AEG from 1928 coupled together with tank car from 1905 and box car of French origin. Tracks in front of the roundhouse were occupied by a flatcar with narrow gauge engine „Las”, tank engines class TKt48-39 and TKh 2949 „Ferrum”. There was also the inspection motor cart WM5-872, accompanied by a massive, 10-ton-lifting crane, 3rd class coach of type „Steinfurt”, firefighting tank car 12C1 (former tender) and small shunting diesel engine class Ls40-4572 with American flat car. The tank engine class TKp 102 took the honorable place on the turntable. Of course one could also see the engines permanently exhibited outside: Pd5-17, Ol49-4 and both „work horses” of type Ty. It was also the first Night of Museums for the diesel shunter class Ls60-143.
The interactive exhibition of signal box equipment was the main point of interest among younger visitors.
The special bus line was very busy that night. The passengers were awaited at the bus stop in front of the Shed by the guide dressed in historical uniform.
Of course, there were much more historical uniforms to be seen…
We would like to express our gratitude to our guests and partners – the City Council of Skierniewice for taking us into account when preparing the special bus route and railway operators: Przewozy Regionalne and Koleje Mazowieckie, for preparing a special offer of free of charge return ticket for the participants of this event.
The exhibition „Paper Heritage of Warsaw-Vienna Railroad”, prepared by our Association, took place on Friday, 15th May 2015 in Ethnographic Gallery at Radogoszcz Villa in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. The exhibits – copies of old documents and photographs – were carefully selected by our colleague Paweł Mierosławski. The exhibition in Grodzisk will be available for admittance till 7th June on Mondays (8AM till 4PM), Tuesdays – Fridays (10AM till 6PM), Saturdays (4PM till 8PM) and Sundays (12AM till 4PM). From 10th June the exhibition will be moved to the Museum of Technology in Warsaw.
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2015 is the fifth year since we invite our fans to visit the Engine Shed during the Railway Night of Museums. Like in the last year, on the third Saturday of the month (16th May) one can visit the Shed at night, from 8PM to 12PM. It is an unique opportunity to see our rolling stock brought back to life thanks to the stunning illumination. Visitors can also taste the atmosphere of the night shift in the signal box at our exhibition of railway traffic equipment.
Free admittance!
We encourage visitors outside Skierniewice to reach our shed by train. Przewozy Regionalne and Koleje Mazowieckie offered to the participants of the Railway Night of Museums a special deal. Anyone who arrives in Skierniewice by Przewozy Regionalne, can return to their departure point free of charge after receiving a PARE’s stamp on their arrival ticket (the offer is valid only in Łódź Voivodeship and Silesian Voivodeship on the direction to Częstochowa). The details of Koleje Mazowieckie offer are available on KM official site.
NOC MUZEÓW W SKIERNIEWICACH
Many other cultural institutions in Skierniewice are open to visitors on the night of 16th May. The City Council of Skierniewice will launch a special night bus route, which will connect all places of interest on this night.
