We would like to invite you on 5^th July to yet another Open Day in Skierniewice Engine Shed. Except the collection of the historical rolling stock, our visitors can see the old workshop and smithy with genuine equipment, the exhibition of photos by Marek Zienkowicz and the exhibition of railway safety devices. Guided sightseeing groups start at every full hour (11.00, 12.00, 13.00 and 14.00). For hungry or thirsty guests awaits catering stand from Atmosfera pizza house.

Free admission!

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On Saturday, 21^st June, on 8:00 pm we would like to invite our fans to the first in 2014 Evening in Engine Shed.

This time, our member Andrzej Paszke will present the slideshow “Tramways of Lisbon” regarding the legendary tramcars, so popular with tourists and respected by the residents of Portugal’s capital city

Free admission.

On Saturday, 7^th June, according to our every year’s tradition, we organized a special a special edition of the Open Day on the occasion of the International Children’s Day. Contrary to the ordinary Open Days, our visitors could freely move around the Engine Shed, so that the youngest guests would not get bored with the lengthy speeches of the guides or strict sightseeing route. Therefore one could freely choose among many attractions and exhibitions available on that day.

Thanks to the sunny weather we were visited by 546 people. Except the regular exhibitions, one could visit the stands of our partners. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe promoted its safe railway crossing campaign „Stop and Live”, where everybody could learn about the important rules of using level crossings. The Landscape Park of Bolimów encouraged to visit its picturesque forests and its many hiking or cycling routes.

Thanks to the efforts of the volunteers technical tracks of the Shed were available for recreational short trips, either with a handcar or inside a historical train consisting of the passenger coach of 4^th class from 1889. Inside, a railwayman in historic uniform punched the Edmondson-type tickets with a vintage conductor’s pincers.

Children could also see the contemporary vehicles from PKP PLK track maintenance services – motor carts WMB10-223 and WM15-260 as well as the emergency vehicle “Unimog”. One could also visit the exhibition of the railway safety devices and signal box equipment, located in the old warehouse.

Children could also visit the artistic corner, were they could try to draw a steam engine or have their face colorfully decorated.

Hungry guests could help themselves by the catering stand of Atmosfera pizza house.

We would like to say a kind “thank You” to all our guests and partners.

Partners

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And so it began – another stage of the repairs of the roundhouse’s roof.

This year, thanks to the received subsidies we plan to recreate the roof above the outer six revision stands, beginning from the stand № 1. The reverse order of the works (when comparing with the previous year) is the result of the need to quickly secure the outer walls from further deterioration from weathering.

The repairs are conducted by the building company „Marbudex” from Skierniewice, which filled the  most favorable offer. We expect the repairs to be completed in the next couple of weeks, but the exact deadline is strictly dependent on the weather conditions.

Repairs are subsidized by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (50 000 PLN) and the Łódź Conservationists Office (35 000 PLN). Own assets of PARE in height of 25 940,94 PLN comes from the 1% of the income tax, for which we would like to thank to all benefactors.

The repairs of points № 128 are slowly but steadily coming to an end. We are looking forward to the successful finish, while this set of points is the main access route from station to the Shed.

A couple of words about the points. It is a normalised switch with a 1:9 slant. The construction of this type of switches was designed by the German railways (DRG) during 1920’s and 1930’s, right after the introduction of the heavy type of rail (49 kg per meter – later known as S49). After war the S49 rails become standard type of railway track surface, making the lighter type C obsolete. The decision resulted both from the state of the post-war railway infrastructure and the fact that the rail was as wide as the pre-war Polish type S42. Of course, the points in our Shed are not as old, most of them was built during 1970’s. The repairs were needed as the slippers were incorrectly laid on a very thin and dirty ballast. There was hardly any drainage and many parts were simply recycled from main line tracks.

Current repairs were a complete overhaul of the switch. Each section of the points was disassembled for removal of old ties and ballast. We had to deepen the track trench to make the new layer of ballast thicker and ensure that new ties have no contact with bare ground. After ballast sifting, it appeared that we have to order several cubic meters extra to fill in the shortage.

During the last weekend, the last section of the switch was completed. The heaviest parts – the frog and guard rails – were laid on their place with our railway crane (manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Wyhlen in 1938). All parts were joined together and secured with new screws.

During the repairs we discovered that the join track between points № 128 and previously overhauled double slip in track № 57 should be completely replaced. There was hardly any ballast under the track and the ties were completely rotten. Thankfully, we still have some extra ties left from the repairs of the turntable – enough to complete the works. We still have to level the points and check the geometry of the new track layout, but we may say the works are nearly completed.

Despite it is not even a week after the Railway Night of Museums, some of our members took part in yet another event. We drove to Zabrze to join the 11^th International Conference “Industrial plants as the subjects of industrial heritage tourism” which took place on 22^nd and 23^rd May and the accompanying 6^th International Fairs of Industrial Heritage and Underground Tourism. The fairs, open to the public, could be visited from 23^rd to 24^th May.

The main theme of the conference was especially interesting for us. In Skierniewice Engine Shed we attempt to create a live collection which would join two seemingly contradictory functions. From one side we would like to create a museum exhibition, from another we would like to keep the facility’s primary function as the place where historical rolling stock could be repaired or even rebuild. Simultaneously, we would like to make the engine shed interesting not only to railway enthusiasts. The conference provided us some fresh point of view. Of course those are not a ready recipes for success but a contribution to new ideas.

Our second stop were the International Touristic Fairs. One cannot imagine industrial heritage without railways, yet we were only one of two representations of this branch of industry. We were accompanied by a colleague from Czech-based Třemešná ve Slezsku – Osoblaha railway.

As in previous year, we arranged our stand to resemble the inside of class TKt48-39 tank engine. We added many railway related props like petrol-fueled headlights, steam engine tools and canisters. We were also the part of the stage – dressed in historical PKP uniforms from 1950’s and 1960’s. Especially children were interested, how the inside of a steam engine look like and what tools an engineer needs.

Fairs gathered exhibitors not only connected with industrial history but also presenting the touristic values of India (Zabrze town council co-organized the fairs together with India Embassy). Among the exhibitors was the closest to us Museum of Metallurgy from Pruszków. One could took part in archaeological excavations and try to find the “forgotten treasures of past civilizations” in a big sandbox. Except that we were really impressed by the vintage automobiles of private collectors and a fire engine from the Museum of Firefighting in Mysłowice. Many visitors were attracted by a large exhibition from the IT and Computers Museum from Katowice. Other notable exhibitors were “Guido” historical coal mine from Zabrze and salt mine from Wieliczka. It’s only a pity that such an event took part exactly during the highest heat this year. In thick uniforms, with additional heating from the vintage headlights, we had conditions similar to the interior of a real steam engine.

Visit in Zabrze was a good opportunity to broaden our experience and renew the old contacts. We also had time for a trip to the Coal-Mining Museum in Zabrze and inspect the quality of rebuild works of class Ty2-5680 engine in front of the headquarters of DB Schenker. We were really impressed by the final result.

We came back to the Shed on Saturday evening, full of new impressions.

We would like to invite you to the 6^th International Fairs of Industrial Heritage and Underground Tourism which take place in Zabrze on 23^rd and 24^th May. Engine crew from PARE will be present there with our class TKt48-39 engine (or at least a mock-up of the real engine). You can take the sentimental rail trip on Friday (9.30 to 18.00) and Saturday (10.00 to 17.30) in MOSiR hall (Matejki Street 6).

All aboard!

On 17^th May 2014 the Railway Night of Museums has arrived for the fifth time to the Skierniewice Engine Shed. It resulted in another record number of visitors – despite the lack of free of charge trains from Łódź and Warsaw, 943 people in less than 4 hours have visited our Shed. Traditionally, we have prepared the illuminated exhibition of our rolling stock – outside the roundhouse stood class TKi3-137 tank engine with mixed train and engine class TKt48-39 took its place on the turntable. The unstable weather made us keep major part of the exhibition inside the roundhouse, of course also brightly illuminated.

Our exhibition of railway safety devices was also an object of much interest. To enhance the effect of unique night atmosphere of a signal box, we have installed a couple of vintage slot lamps, which illuminated the lever frames and station dashboards. One could also visit the machine workshop, smithy and see other temporary exhibitions. Thirsty or hungry visitors could help themselves by the stand of Atmosfera pizza house stand and then continue visiting other attractions prepared that night in Skierniewice.

This year’s Railway Night of Museums took place under the honorable auspices of Mr Zbigniew Klepacki – Undersecretary of Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and Mr Witold Stępień – Marshal of the Łódź Voivodeship.

PKP Intercity, Przewozy Regionalne and Koleje Mazowieckie provided free of charge return trip for the Shed’s visitors.

We would like to thank to our guest, sponsors and partners.

Oragnizers

HONORABLE PATRONS

PartnERS

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On 17^th May 2014 the Railway Night of Museums will take place for a fifth time in Rogów and Skierniewice. It is the one-a-year opportunity to visit at night both the Skierniewice Engine Shed (Łowicka Street 1, Skierniewice) and the Museum of Rogów – Rawa – Biała Narrow Gauge Railway (Dworcowa Street 37, Rogów). In the night scenery it will be possible to learn a bit about the railway history and take unique photos.

This year’s Railway Night of Museums take place under the honorable auspices of Mr Zbigniew Klepacki – Undersecretary of Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and Mr Witold Stępień – Marshal of the Łódź Voivodeship.

Many attractions await visitors in Skierniewice (admission hours: 20.00 till midnight). Historical buildings of the engine shed hides many historic engines and railway cars from 19^th and early 20^th century. Specially for this occasion we have prepared illuminated exhibition of the rolling stock from PARE collection. You can also visit the exhibition of railway safety devices and signal box equipment, railway workshop, historic railway smithy and other temporary exhibitions. Tired visitors can try delicious grilled dishes, served by Atmosfera pizza house. We encourage the visitors to try out other attractions awaiting that night in Skierniewice: Prymasowski Palace, Park Gate, City House of Culture, Regional Academy of Entrepreneurship, History Chamber of Skierniewice, City Library. Feel free to take the free of charge trip to those places by a special night busses .

In Rogów (admission hours between 18.30 and 22.30) visitors will be able to see the historic narrow-gauge railway station, smithy and workshops of Rogów – Rawa – Biała Railway. The visit in Rogów will end with a narrow-gauge train trip on route Rogów – Jeżów – Rogów. Detailed information regarding the trip and seats reservation are available at www.kolejrogowska.pl.

Due to the planned end of the events in late night hours, we recommend taking warm clothes.

Attention: unfortunately, this year there will be no free of charge special trains to Skierniewice and Rogów. Nevertheless, the trip is  still possible on special rules with regular trains of PKP Intercity and Przewozy Regionalne . Anyone, who travels this day to Skierniewice and Rogów can have his one-way ticket stamped with “Railway Night of Museums” stamps, which allows free of charge return trip with the train of the same operator. Below are the details of special offers of each of the operators:

PKP Intercity

Anyone, who travels on 17^th May to Skierniewice and Rogów with PKP Intercity train, can travel back free of charge to his departure point on the territory of Poland using his one-way ticket with “Railway Night of Museums” stamp with any train of PKP IC. The stamp can be obtained in Skierniewice (Engine Shed, Łowicka Street 1) and in Rogów (Rogów Towarowy narrow-gauge railway station, Dworcowa Street 37). On 17^th May selected TLK trains will take additional stop ta Rogów Railway Station.

Przewozy Regionalne

Anyone, who travels on 17^th May to Skierniewice and Rogów with PKP Intercity train, can travel back free of charge to his departure point on the area of Łódź and Silesian Voivodship (latter in the direction Częstochowa)  using his one-way ticket with “Railway Night of Museums” stamp with any train of Przewozy Regionalne. The stamp can be obtained in Skierniewice (Engine Shed, Łowicka Street 1) and in Rogów (Rogów Towarowy narrow-gauge railway station, Dworcowa Street 37).

Organizers

Honorable patrons

Partners

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