Prague 17/18th October 2009. Steam galore !

The Czech steam scene is busy around Prague over 17/18 October.

The Czech Railway Museum closes for the winter season in October and always seem to have a 'farewell' event every year!

This year, the huge blue 4-8-2 tender express passenger loco 'Albatross' will run a special from Praha (Branik - adjacent to the terminus of tram route 16 - easy to get to)) to Luzna (the museum) and return on both days. A real beast of a machine!

If that was not enough there is a further special from Praha Masarykovo (City Centre terminus) to Luzna (and return) with a large blue 4-8-4 express passenger tank loco. This runs both days too

Timings (and pic links) can be found on the excellent ZEL pages here;

http://www.zelpage.cz/kalendar/?rok=2009&mesic=10

The locals are passionate about their steam locomotives and much of the scene there is largely owned and operated by Cesky Drahy (Czech Railways). These trains operate on a 'turn up, pay and go' basis and, compared to the UK, are incredibly cheap. One way tickets available on all services too So you could go to Luzna with the tank and come back behind the tender engine

These events are well worth a visit and, as I have said before, cheap flights, reasonably priced accomodation, cheap beer/living and a beautiful city to keep the wife/girlfriend/partner happy. It would be rude not to go !

Czech railways promo material is here http://www.cd.cz/static/nostalgie/Nostalgie-2009.pdf
but there is lots more around if you like to hunt a little.

Oh and yes................I'm going ! Happy to assist if anyone has questions - just PM me.

 

Hello there.

Im interested in any details you come across. Im quite tempted to go as I have never been. Whats the museum like? My language skills are not great but fancy some trips behind something different.

Andy

 

English is quite widely spoken by the younger generation.

The museums current 'leaflet' can be viewed in English here;

http://www.os.cd.cz/muzeum/files/English-ec06cd63375ecffc16a8c6a565036d4c.pdf

and the special train details are found in Zel pages - see link in my original post

 

Better late than never I suppose. What a weekend ! The pics can be found here

http://johnleyland736.mediaobject.co.uk/c1779025_1.html

I've fallen in love with Czech Railways completely ! Not only do they have a vibrant steam scene, their normal operations for loco hauled trains and the huge variety is amazing! It's almost like British Railways in the 1960's !