Similarly to previous years, one could visit our stand at the 9th International Tourist Fairs of Industrial Heritage and Underground Tourism which took place in OSIR hall at Matejki Street 6 in Zabrze. The fairs are devoted especially to the objects of industrial heritage open to the tourists. Among those are mines, breweries, wineries, caves, fortifications and railway facilities like our Shed.
A roof, especially from the leaking kind, is always a nightmare of the owner of a large historical building. In our case, when we speak about acres of roofs of industrial objects, its structural integrity is a matter of survival for the exhibits underneath.
We are aware that there are multiple challenges ahead of us: rusting rolling stock, falling apart plumbing and poor condition of the tracks. Still, with rain water leaking through the holes one cannot go far – refurbished cars will soon get damaged by the seepage, so goes with any repaired plumbing or electricity installation. Not to mention losing the willingness to do any track works where all around you can feel the stench of a damp. Therefore, roofs are our main challenge now.
Thankfully, the roof repairs in engine shed are quite advanced. Last year was very successful in this matter – we managed to receive a funding for the repairs of major part of the roundhouse roof and the first part of skylight, thanks to which our most valuable exhibits (especially the battery motor unit Wittfeld and renovated class Ol49-4) are now fully secured against the elements.
Unfortunately, after one golden year there is one thin. We did not managed to repeat the previous year’s success. We managed to receive a support of 14 500 PLN from City of Skierniewice for the renovation of our tracks. Still to complete the works, a total of 4 000 PLN own assets is required – a meagre percent of the assets we had last year.
Despite the financial shortage, we still want to continue the repairs of the roofs to really say that we finished this stage. We are not far from our goal (it’s only 136 m2 on the main roundhouse). This made us to decide to continue on our own the repairs, even without the external subsidies. Still our main source of money for repairs is the 1% of income tax – that’s why you support is invaluable. As long as we are focused on upkeep of the buildings, we have to postpone our dreams of a running steam engine.
Once again we ask you to support us with your 1% of income tax. Each 1 złoty brings us closer to finishing the building renovation and, in long run, to the moment when live steam engine leaves the gates of our Shed.
The conference “Conservation of railway heritage in Poland. History, resources, problems and perspectives” took place on 27th 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 8th and 9th 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:
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 17th March to Sunday 19th 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 7th to 8th 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:
Dear supporters,
Similarly to year 2016 we wanted to send a thank-you letter to all donors of 1% of income tax. Unfortunately, due to the changed tax and private data protection rules, we cannot use any address data provided by tax office without the consent of the donor. Therefore, we would like to ask all those who do not mind to receive such a letter, to provide us with your address via our association’s email zarzad@psmk.org.pl. It is also possible to request for a letter which can be received in person e.g. during the events in Engine Shed.
Since the beginning of the year we send 10 applications to various institutions in order to receive grants for future projects in Engine Shed. Their main purpose is to improve the state of the infrastructure of the Shed. There are first successes! On 10th February we were informed that City Council of Skierniewice will grant us a generous amount of 14 500 PLN for repairs of the most worn-out track sections. After completing the documentation, we hope to start the work in march! However, for that we still need 4000 PLN of initial capital, so please remember us when settling your tax report and assigning your 1% of income tax.
On Saturday, 10th December 2016 the 7th Main Assembly of PARE members took place. A part of this meeting was selection of new association authorities. According to the current law, new board will start its activities as soon as its members will be registered in National Judicial Registry, which was accomplished in mid-January 2017. At the same assembly, a new charter, agreed on Special Assemblies in January and May 2016, came into effect. The main areas of change in the charter is new terminology of association bodies and new rules of representing the PARE outside of the association.
PARE board members:
Main audit board:
Association court:
