So you want to run a steam locomotive?

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Seaboard92

Engineer
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
4,698
Location
South Carolina
It is actually possible to run and fire a steam locomotive with one of your closest friends in western Poland in the small town of Wolsztyn (Wolstein) on two branch lines. A group of British preservationists have some how managed to convince PKP to allow western tourists to run and fire active steam locomotives on a secondary mainline. And that isn't the craziest part about it yet. You pull two to three coaches along with you on an active commuter train into the cities of Poznan (Posen) and Leszno (Lissa). Where you are picking up commuters at 11 intermediate stops (Leszno) or 17 intermediate stops (Poznan).

They have three steam locomotives they are currently using two 2-6-2s (prairies) and a 2-8-2 (Mikado). The line is signaled with semaphores for most of its length. And what makes this even more interesting especially on the Poznan trips the last kilometers into Poznan Station are on the Berlin-Warsaw Main Line.

Included in your 1,785 Pound Sterling rate is seven nights of accommodations at the shops, and breakfast each day. You get to run four round trips, and fire four round trips.

Now that I have flight benefits I have already booked and confirmed dates in March for my best friend and I to go and run together. It'll be a ton of fun for the two of us. Personally I want to work mostly on the 2-8-2 because I am a large fan of Mikado types. My friend used to be a fireman back in the Southern Railway Steam Program so at least one of us has relevant experience with handling a 2-8-2.

If you want more information about them here is the link.

http://www.thewolsztynexperience.org/home.php
 
This is awesome.


This reminds me though, did you ever make a trip report thread for your ride on the Alaska railroad?
 
Tourist trains in Ely NV and Portola CA both have steam lessons for tourists including operating a locomotive. I believe neither allows passengers. Also, sometimes the big steam festivals accept "donations" for a few minutes of a few hundred yards up-and-back operating the controls, money used to help restore whatever they are working on then.
Nevada Northern Railway -- National Historic Landmark
WPRM Home
 
Back
Top