Railway fans will have a lot of possibilities of enjoying nostalgic rides onboard historical trains in August as well. Already next weekend, a steam train will depart from Lužná u Rakovníka to Nižbor, and the Summer on Bechyňka project and Rožnov Steam Summer rides will continue. Visitors can see the magical surroundings of the Lednice-Valtice area in style while travelling on the board of the historical Hurvínek diesel rail car. The ČD Museum in Lužná u Rakovníka, which is open daily except Mondays until the end of August, is also worth a visit, because its visitors can find there a number of interesting railway exhibits.
Journey by a steam train from the ČD Museum to the Berounka River
On Saturday, 5 August, at 11:00 hours a steam train pulled by the Kremák (534.0323) locomotive will leave Lužná u Rakovníka and will travel along the route leading via Rakovník, Křivoklát, Roztoky u Křivoklátu and Zbečno to Nižbor, where it will arrive at 12:30 hours. The train will start its journey back to Lužná at 14:45 hours. In addition to a ride onboard the historical train, passengers can plan a visit to Křivoklát Castle, see the monument-protected Hamous Farm in Zbečno, take a bath in the Berounka River or visit the famous railway restaurant in Nižbor.
This will be the last run for the steam locomotive no. 534.0323 before it is put out of operation. The locomotive must undergo a thorough boiler inspection, and repairs to the locomotive’s running gear must be arranged for.
Visitors can combine a ride onboard the historical train with a visit to the České dráhy Museum in Lužná u Rakovníka, which is open daily except for Mondays from 9:30 to 17:00 hours in the summer season. The main attractions of the museum are just the steam locomotives, of which there are more than thirty in the collections. These machines reflect the development of steam operation from the turn of the 20th century to the end of steam traction in the second half of the 20th century. In addition to steam locomotives, there are also historical rail cars, diesel or electric locomotives, period passenger carriages and freight wagons and many other interesting exhibits necessary for railway operation.
Rožnov Steam Summer
Saturday 5 August will be the last time this year when a historical steam train is to run between Valašské Meziříčí and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm as a part of the Rožnov Steam Summer project. The train will be made up of historical carriages of the former 3rd carriage class and a service car for transporting prams. It will be headed by the steam locomotive known as “Velký bejček” no. 423.041 (“Big Bull”). There are two runs scheduled from Valašské Meziříčí, namely at 9:50 and 13:10 hours. Concerning the journey in the opposite direction from Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, the train will depart at 11:12 and 15:34.
In Rožnov pod Radhoštěm on this day, passengers can enjoy the 24th edition of the International Festival of Slovak Traditions in the Czech Republic known as “Jánošíkov dukát”.
Summer on the Bechyňka railway line
Every Saturday until 30 August, and extraordinarily also on Sunday 13 August, historical trains will run on our oldest electrified railway line, between Tábor and Bechyně. Railway enthusiasts can take a ride in the electric rail car known as Elinka, which is the oldest electric rail car in our country, or in a train pulled by the historical electric locomotive named “Bobinka”.
At selected stations and stops along the route, passengers will find individual points of the Bechyňka Nature Trail. The information boards are supplemented by maps with marked tourist destinations in the surroundings. On Saturdays, 5, 12 and 19 August from 9:00 to 15:30 hours, a running shed with a model track yard will also be opened in Bechyně.
In addition to a ride onboard the historical trains, passengers can also enjoy culture. The Comedians in the Streets festival will take place in Tábor during this weekend from 4 to 6 August, and the 700th anniversary of Bechyně’s promotion to a town will be celebrated during the subsequent weekend from 11 to 13 August.
By a rail car to Lednice
On weekends until 3 September, the historical Hurvínek rail car from 1955 will be leaving from Břeclav to Lednice and back. Lednice Castle is one of the most beautiful English Neo-Gothic complexes in Europe. In its surroundings it is possible to visit the most extensive parkland in the world, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Day trippers can visit the local Toy Museum as well.
The rail car departs from the Břeclav railway station at 9:23, 11:23, 13:11 and 15:11 hours, from Lednice it starts its return journey at 10:20, 12:20, 14:10 and 16:10 hours. On Saturday, September 9, the diesel train will be replaced by a steam train pulled by a Skaličák locomotive and formed of Rybáky carriages and a historical restaurant car.
A trip to Mariánská Týnice by a historical rail car
On Tuesdays 8 and 22 August, České dráhy will take those interested by its historical rail car from Lužná u Rakovníka to Kralovice and then by ČD Bus to Mariánská Týnice to visit the Baroque pearl of Western Bohemia. There, passengers will be able to see the former pilgrimage site, the church, the western and eastern ambit, a museum with a permanent exhibition or short-term exhibitions, including the History of Beer in the Northern Pilsen Region.
The special train will be served by the rail car no. M 131.105 known as “Hurvínek”. Its departure is scheduled from Lužná u Rakovníka at 11:55 hours, and the train will arrive back at Lužná u Rakovníka shortly after 4 p.m.
By a historical train from one museum to another one
Every Wednesday until 30 August, a nostalgic train made up of historical Bam series carriages, pulled by the T435.0 Hektor locomotive, departs from Lužná u Rakovníka to Chomutov. The train thus connects two railway museums, the ČD Museum and the depository of the National Technical Museum. The museums offer an extensive collection of precious railway exhibits.
This special train departs from Lužná u Rakovníka at 10:55 and arrives at Chomutov at 12:01 hours. On the return journey from the depository area, the train departs at 14:30 and arrives at Lužná at 16:02 hours.
Advance sales of tickets for nostalgic trains are available at České dráhy ticket offices or from www.cd.cz/eshop.
More information not only about these events and timetables of special trains can be found on the "Vlakem na výlet" portal or on the www.cdnostalgie.cz website.
Author: Petr Pošta
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