Narrow-gauge in Czech Republic

 There is narrow gauge wonder land in South Bohemia.  It is called as JHMD.

 One branch runs from Jindřichův Hradec (Known as Neuhaus in German) to  Nova Bystrice,  which locates on the border between Czech Republic and Austria.  The other one connects between Jindřichův Hradec and Obrataň CD  (Czech Railway) station.

 Steam Locomotives run regularly in the both lines.

  It was impossible to use All-day ticket (Celodenni jizdenka) of CD because of private company. However, it is worth to visit there.

At Kunzak-Lomy station

There is enough time for taking pictures in the journey from

There is a small exhibition about the narrow gauge railway in front of Jindrichuv Hradec station

Narrow gauge station of Jindřichův Hradec locates next to the CD station building

Some different type locos are running there

Passenger cars

Inside passenger cars

Trains carried by Steam locos are including with Open air cars and bar car.  

Open air passenger car

View from open air car

You can enjoy Czech beers and other liquor. Also postcards and souvenirs can be got.

Bar car

There are many good cycling routes around  Nova Bystrice. 

And you can carry on bikes by trains. However, it depends on the train, so you might check the schedule in advance on the website.

Goods wagons are used for cycles

Obrataň station

Single track platform

One DL and one passenger car

Anyway, if you visit Czech Republic, don't miss the opportunity for riding narrow gauge trains!

(2013/07/17)

Hokkaido narrow-gauge preserved railcar

The scene of Hokkaido, which located in Northern Japan, looks like somewhere in Eastern Europe.

 

There were a lot of small narrow gauge networks in Hokkaido until the 1960s.

Hokkaido is a frontier in Japan against Russia and many people migrated after Meiji-resolution. There were no good roads in the rural area, therefore, it was necessary to build narrow-gauge with low-costing operation. After motorisation, the networks were  totally abandoned except 'Maruseppu' park's one.

Sometimes the SL/DL runs inside the park. If you are interested in this park, it is better to contact with Engaru-town near Abashiri in advance.


http://engaru.jp/kankou_info/maruseppu/sinrin-kouen/ikoinomori.html

(Japanese only)

Contact address: shokou^engaru.jp : please change from ^ to @ due to avoiding spams

 

However, we can see preserved locos and DMUs.

For example, in Bekkai-town (roughly 40 km from Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport), there are one DMU and DL.

DMU

DL

Ruin of the turn-table

Ruin of the depot

There are some amazing pictures taken in 1968, when the 762mm line still run.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/m_horikoshi/3KaniKidou/_Rk_01_bekkai.htm
(Japanese only)

This HP uploaded great valuable pictures of the other narrow-gauges in Eastern Hokkaido.

http://omotetsu.art.coocan.jp/hamanaka01.htm
(Japanese only but worth to see)


(08/Feb/2013)
 

Banitis in Latvia

Why I love 60's music and Railways (especially narrow gauge or abandoned ...)

I love the things which people tend to forget.

60's music such as the Zombies and the Animals are slow and easy to listen.

Narrow gauge and abandoned railways often bring people nostalgic world.

Both of them remind people of memories which people lived more primitively than present.

For example, 'Banitis' is one of the most lovely narrow gauge railway.
The train runs between Gulbenes and Aluksnes in Latvia.
http://www.banitis.lv/eng/index.htm

It went to Baltic sea in the past.

About Banitis (Japanese only)


Traveling there, I listened 60's music :D

The Zombies - She's Not There

(26/Nov/2012)