If the expected participants of the 8000 UN World Climate Change Conference starting next Monday in Poznan westpolnischen on their forums and discussions boring, there is an alternative for them. And although a political climate not at all correct, but still for many of stimulus is likely to be uncommonly: The trip to 70 km west of town Wolsztyn (formerly Wollstein) also appears in the official accompanying program for the Conference on.
Wolsztyn expected in the climate politicians over one hundred years old railway works. Lending is still operated a fleet of steam locomotives, which - unique in the world - continue regular passenger trains daily draws. Wolsztyn is the Mecca of steam addicts from all over the world, and which are mostly in Britain so many that the demand for visits to western Poland is greater than supply.
"We are already fully booked until the end of 2009," says Howard Jones, British and founder of the travel company Wolsztyn Experience, which even today mainly in the Polish town of lives. 1997 Jones's business as a specialty organizers. With revenues of steam addicts, the coals for Schipper, locomotives and preen itself around 1000 euros per week pay, the operation of the cargo subsidiary of the Polish State Railways PKP dependent steam division subsidized.
Five times more expensive than a Railcar
"We all feared the end of the steam plant," says an active volunteer staff of PKP in Wolsztyn, his name will not mention. "In the seventies times, we had 340 people, today is one tenth of them," says the retired, "we are here all lovers."
Although the operation was completely uneconomical, "because one kilometer to go by steam train is five times more expensive than in a modern rail bus," says the veteran PKP. But there is also good news for steam fanatics: After a new agreement between the organizers, the regional government and the PKP will be for the next five years to go with two daily connections between Wolsztyn steam and Poznan. The first train leaves the station next to the railway work already morning at 5:40 clock, the second at 11.40 clock. "We hope that as many enthusiasts as possible the offer, because only the railway tourism, the regional government to initiate the steam operation to continue to support," says Howard Jones.
A total of 30 steam locomotives once the fleet consisted of the railway premises Wolsztyn, many of them German design. The oldest was born in 1917 and was built Schwartzkopff in Berlin. The big hub before Lokschuppen was established in 1908, on the other hand, the installation of German production still works perfectly. Today, a total of 25 giant steam from 13 to officially Series stock. Six of them are still running, but only three locomotives are actually further steam, which at times only one is operational.
Four tons of coal for 140 km
Particularly, the sprightly Ol49-69, built in 1953 in Poland, from their daily morning ride back to Poznan. The three green and beige carriages are only very sparsely occupied today, money is at least the ticket sales hard to earn. Well, that people like the roots Ireen Englishwoman from Brighton there.
The woman is wearing rough work boots, blue cap and gloves and sets hand when fueling the powerful water boiler. 25 cubic meters will be required for a single trip. "We pump the water directly from the nearby lake, the city otherwise would have no more water through the steam locomotive operation," says Ireen wienert and the mighty iron wheeled around, it hisses and steams. Then at the tender coal refilled? four tons of which are elected for a tour over 140 km to Poznan and back consumed.
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"I have worked themselves into the railways in England and was already about a dozen times here in Wolsztyn," outet itself as Ireen Dampffanatikerin. Overall, organizers said Jones, since 1997 were already 3,500 customers, of which only 2000 different, the rest are repeat as Ireen, which always return to the pilgrimage to Wolsztyn break. Steam is addictive. Six lucky can at any time and travel to Poland on the original train pleasure delight, only in August is travel break.
"Everything you need is a stronger arm"
The effort, the steam trains to leave, is outrageous. "We have ten hours fuel, so you can go," says Ireen and wiping the sweat from the blackened face. "Even if the locomotive shed in the stands, the boiler is not cool." The largest of them and other guests are the drivers courses, the so-called Footplating. Mondays are newcomers to a pure freight route introduced before then twice on Tuesday during their one-week stay in the cab of the train ride and may even hand.
"This will help people to make an advanced age," advertises Howard Jones, "everything you need is at least a strong arm, the stiffness speed regulator and the brake valve to operate."
And of course a lot of enthusiasm for the train drivers on the historic tour.
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