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Robin Patrick was the LCGB/Enthusiast Holidays Balkans tour in May/June 2007.
They saw nearly 20 'real' working steam locomotives as well as special workings:
Serbia:
Zrejanin Works 33 087 & NG 85 005 being overhauled.
Smederevo Carriage Works five 62's (USA tanks) steam standby to diesel.
Kostolac Open Cast Mine, several 900mm Davenport 0-8-0's like UNRRA locomotives 9 & 13 either end of three coal wagons worked to open cast mine and back. All locomotives in good condition.
Resavica Colliery steam standby to diesel? 126 014 Budapest 1899 ex MAV 325 079, steamed specially for us but burst a tube! The other locomotive 120 019 Budapest built 1906 ex MAV 370 092 both in very nice external condition.
Vreoci Mine two 62's in use 62 117 & 62 643 with 53 017 Decauville 0-6-0T in use on narrow gauge system.
Serbian 2-6-2 01 088 worked special train Belgrade to
Pozega, 2-6-2T 51 052 is available at Belgrade for special use.
Mokra Gora Museum Railway, this is a fantastic line near Bosnian Border in actual fact runs across border. 83 173 worked the special through the many tunnels & spirals to Sargan Vitasi where the depot was, two ex industrial locomotives were in steam at depot along with 83 052 not in steam.
Bosnia:
Vares Steelworks 62 370 working on demolition of works which will take 6 to 12 months.
Bresa Coal Mine 62 363 working.
Kakanj Coal Mine 62 020 working.
Mittal Steel Works 62 361 working + another 62, with 62 361 being overhauled.
The steam passenger service has recently stopped, said to be 'unsafe'.
Rudnik Zenika Coal Mine 62 650 working.
Kreka Coal mine, Tuzla 33 248 worked our normal train of empties with one coach in consist for us to
Banovice. En - route on train 33 064 was met working empties to another mine. At Kreka Mine 33 216 available for use 62 367 working with 33 503 & 62 360 being overhauled.
Sisecam Soda Factory 62 638 working.
Banovice Colliery 62 shunting here.
Banovice Colliery Line narrow gauge 25 33 & 83 158 with special, steam here
standby to diesels.
Slovenia:
Preserved 2-8-0 25 026 worked a special over very scenic line from Jesenice to
Sezana. Then the following day FS 728 022 worked out of Trieste Italy to Vila Opicina where Slovenian 25 026 to Nova Gorica & return to Trieste changing into FS train again.
The Slovenian 2-8-2 06 018 is under repair at Ljubjana Railway Museum.
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