Steam in Bosnia, 2009

Click here for Tim Murray's October 2008 report.

Click here for Stephan Thierfelder's October 2008 report.

Tim Murray reports:

Brief trip report of visit to Bosnia

Sat 17th Oct flew out from LSTD to Zadar in Croatia on Ryanair. Hired car and stayed night at Zadar.

Sun 18th Oct Drove from Zadar to Bosnian border – took two hours, mostly motorway. Then three hours onto Katanj. Saw loco (62 class) working. It shunted wagons around the colliery area at about 3pm. Drove on to spend night at Banovici in the Hotal Zlaca in the forest (we had five nights here)

Mon 19th Oct Went to Lukavac. Not much happening on coal line or soda factory. Went to Dubrave. The 33 was getting its fulls ready in the early afternoon and went down to exchange sidings at about 4pm. Returned with empties straightaway. Visited Durdovac on the way back to hotel. Loco not working and would not for the rest of the week.

Tues 20th Oct Went to Lukavac and caught 33 running light back to Bukinge. There was a problem with the 33 that was there so they swopped it over for the spare. Not much more activity at Lukovac and weather pretty poor. (The soda factory was not at all friendly when two colleagues walked down to where the loco was staged. They were told in no uncertain terms that this was ‘off limits’ although it would appear that this might be relaxed in 6 months time – there was a lot of building work going on at the factory).

Wed 21st Oct Went to Bukinge. The 62 took fulls down to the power station at about 09.10 and returned light in superb sunshine. Went to Lukavac but no sign of much activity. Arrived at level crossing at Durdovac to find that the loco was already down at the exchange sidings (this was at about 2.30pm). Photted it coming back and also shunting at the mine in good sunshine.

Thurs 22nd Oct Visited Lukavac and saw soda factory 62 bringing in coking wagons to the works at about 9.20am. Visited the shed at Banovici and obtained permit for 15euros each. 83 came up to get some coal. Locos in shed area including recently restored 55-99. 25 class being worked on in the works. Went to Lukavac. The 33 worked in from the mine with fulls at about 15.30 and went back on empties straight away. Back at Oskova 62 shunting on standard gauge and 83 shunting narrow gauge. Other 62 and 19 being worked on in the standard gauge shed.

Frid 23rd Oct Saw 62 shunting at Oskova and then drove to Kakanj. 62 shunting around colliery and then left light engine to exchange sidings at about 2.15pm. Returned with some wagons. Stayed at the Hotel Premium in Katanj

Sat 24th Oct Visited Zenica coal mine. Could not gain entry to colliery as written permission was needed. However 62 class came up from exchange sidings with empties at about 9.30am. The area before the colliery appears to be a non security restricted area. Part of what was the colliery and steelworks has been turned into an industrial estate for firms with public roads and the line from the exchange siding runs right through this. Leisurely drive back to Zadar and on Ryanair flight back to LSTD.