Re: Czech Narrow Gauge Slezske Zemske Drahy - More details

Urias is correct. It was completely overhauled in Austria and was released from the shops in May 2009 and went into service in June. It has performed faultlessly since going into service.

It is a 2-10-0 which as Dale says is common and of course used to cut axle weight as these are big engines. One advantage on this 13 mile branch is that the regular six trains a day service is still a heavy locomotive with generally one coach which means the branch is well maintained, not that Czech Railways ever do otherwise.

Czech railways is one of the few railways left in the world whereby cost does not matter and the railway is run on the basis of spending what is necessary to get their 7,500 trains a day running like clockwork. Their punctuality rate is an astonishing 95.6% and their cancellation rate as near zero as makes no difference. Every major station has a spare loco hauled or railcar set sitting there so instant substitution can be made in the unlikely event of failure.

All their mainline locos are thirty years old and like typícal communist machines were built like tanks and still do frontline work with astonishing reliability. Loco failures on a Skoda are almost unknown.It is rare on any mainline service to have a loco younger than thirty years which says something for the maintenance standards.

If you want to see the full list of trains in the Czech Republic operated by steam then go to:

www.zelpage.cz

It must be the only railway in the world where you discover while waiting for a scheduled service that it is steam or vintage equipment operated.

So do come and visit Slezske Zemske Drahy! I guarantee a fabulous day out.

Michael Grimes