On the steepest line in Poland
Lower Silesia is an exceptionally interesting area of Poland. This also applies to its railway network, which has the oldest railway lines, the longest tunnels, the highest points (above sea level) and the most scenic routes in Poland. Legends also say that right here lies the legendary Nazi Golden Train, which is said to have transported tons of gold and other precious goods of the Third Reich. What we can be sure of however is that in Lower Silesia we'll also find the steepest railway line on the Polish rail network - the local line from Mysłakowice to Karpacz.
The line is known for its extremely steep slopes, which reach more than 5% on the steepest parts on a length of 50 meters. Its entire average incline is 2.2% - it climbs up 154 meters on its length of 7 kilometers. The steepest part however starts after passing the old station in Miłków, which is when trains start climbing towards Karpacz at an average incline of 3.4%. The steepest point of 5.1% lies just under a kilometer before the terminus at Karpacz. Due to those extreme conditions it was decided that the work trains on this very special line be hauled with the use of a heavier locomotive - this being a 6-axle SM31, of which just under 10 remain in service in Poland as of now.
The image shows the train on the break point of the line, where its slope flattens from 4% to just under 1%. This place used to house the junction of a lumber mill in Brzezie Karkonoskie, which makes the line appear this way to this day. The SM31-009 was waiting in this very spot on 8.03.2025 for the Plasser tamping machine to finish works around Miłków.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
Other pictures from this very special line:
On the steepest line in Poland
Lower Silesia is an exceptionally interesting area of Poland. This also applies to its railway network, which has the oldest railway lines, the longest tunnels, the highest points (above sea level) and the most scenic routes in Poland. Legends also say that right here lies the legendary Nazi Golden Train, which is said to have transported tons of gold and other precious goods of the Third Reich. What we can be sure of however is that in Lower Silesia we'll also find the steepest railway line on the Polish rail network - the local line from Mysłakowice to Karpacz.
The line is known for its extremely steep slopes, which reach more than 5% on the steepest parts on a length of 50 meters. Its entire average incline is 2.2% - it climbs up 154 meters on its length of 7 kilometers. The steepest part however starts after passing the old station in Miłków, which is when trains start climbing towards Karpacz at an average incline of 3.4%. The steepest point of 5.1% lies just under a kilometer before the terminus at Karpacz. Due to those extreme conditions it was decided that the work trains on this very special line be hauled with the use of a heavier locomotive - this being a 6-axle SM31, of which just under 10 remain in service in Poland as of now.
The image shows the train on the break point of the line, where its slope flattens from 4% to just under 1%. This place used to house the junction of a lumber mill in Brzezie Karkonoskie, which makes the line appear this way to this day. The SM31-009 was waiting in this very spot on 8.03.2025 for the Plasser tamping machine to finish works around Miłków.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
Other pictures from this very special line: