"Skrajnia"
"Skrajnia" is currently the only non-passenger regular train using the Ostbahn, between Chojnice and Czersk. Not only is it an interesting train consist-wise, but it also is hauled by an SM31 locomotive, of which there aren't a lot anymore in Poland.
On 21.11.2024 the 753001 Gniezno Winiary - Somonino "Skrajnia" oversize load train arrived at Czersk with a fresh new SM31-021. I think it was the first train of this locomotive since the repair it had. (it had previously been owned by PKP Cargo).
The train's route from Wrocław, where large power generators are produced, leads through some of the least used lines in Poland, because it drives very slowly and, when running under overhead catenary, the power needs to be shut off in the catenary.
From Gniezno Winiary the train receives a new schedule and runs towards Kcynia, Nakło, Więcbork, Chojnice, Czersk, where it changes the direction of travel. From there onwards in goes to Bąk, to meet with the old coal mainline, and then to Kościerzyna and Somonino, where it waits for the night to come, so that the dense passenger traffic dies out. At night, it goes from Somonino to the harbour of Gdynia, where the power generator is unloaded and shipped overseas.
On the picture the SM31-021 is attaching to one of the 2 passenger/crew coaches in the train, in order to reshuffle the consist, as all the wagons and coaches constantly need to be in the same order. It would later shut down and sleep for the whole rest of the day, before launching around 9:30am on the 22nd. The sun only made a brief appeareance before dying out and leaving the entire station in complete darkness.
I was a little bit sad, as I had been expecting a lot of snow in Czersk that day. The entire city of Gdańsk and the whole area around the Ostbahn was completely white all the time, but when I came to Czersk, there had been absolutely no snow.
You can see how the whole train looks like here
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
"Skrajnia"
"Skrajnia" is currently the only non-passenger regular train using the Ostbahn, between Chojnice and Czersk. Not only is it an interesting train consist-wise, but it also is hauled by an SM31 locomotive, of which there aren't a lot anymore in Poland.
On 21.11.2024 the 753001 Gniezno Winiary - Somonino "Skrajnia" oversize load train arrived at Czersk with a fresh new SM31-021. I think it was the first train of this locomotive since the repair it had. (it had previously been owned by PKP Cargo).
The train's route from Wrocław, where large power generators are produced, leads through some of the least used lines in Poland, because it drives very slowly and, when running under overhead catenary, the power needs to be shut off in the catenary.
From Gniezno Winiary the train receives a new schedule and runs towards Kcynia, Nakło, Więcbork, Chojnice, Czersk, where it changes the direction of travel. From there onwards in goes to Bąk, to meet with the old coal mainline, and then to Kościerzyna and Somonino, where it waits for the night to come, so that the dense passenger traffic dies out. At night, it goes from Somonino to the harbour of Gdynia, where the power generator is unloaded and shipped overseas.
On the picture the SM31-021 is attaching to one of the 2 passenger/crew coaches in the train, in order to reshuffle the consist, as all the wagons and coaches constantly need to be in the same order. It would later shut down and sleep for the whole rest of the day, before launching around 9:30am on the 22nd. The sun only made a brief appeareance before dying out and leaving the entire station in complete darkness.
I was a little bit sad, as I had been expecting a lot of snow in Czersk that day. The entire city of Gdańsk and the whole area around the Ostbahn was completely white all the time, but when I came to Czersk, there had been absolutely no snow.
You can see how the whole train looks like here
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus