Steam in Bulgaria 2011

On Saturday 30th April narrow gauge 609⁷⁶ 2-10-2T, ran a special from Septemvri to Velingrad, followed next day by a special from Velingrad to Dobrinishte with diesel assist where incline steepest on Rhodope Mountain line. Here it leaves Septemvri:

01.23 2-8-2 (Wintherthur 3593/1935) on Monday 2nd May special from Panagjurishte to Plovdiv, seen here leaving Panagjurishte.

16.01 2-10-0 (WLF 17647/1949) ex DR 42 2761 Wednesday 4th May special from Gorna Orjahovitsa to Ruse.

03.12 4-8-2 (Henschel 26575/1942) restored last year, Thursday 5th May special from Levski to Trojan, seen here ready to depart Levski.

05.01 4-6-2 Krupp 2459/1941 restored last year, Saturday 7th May special Sofia - Pernik - Dupnitsa and return, seen here departing Pernik.

The coaching stock for the standard gauge part of the tour comprised three green royal coaches built for the Shah of Persia but undeliverable owing to WW2, whereupon King Boris 111, who was a railway enthusiast, stepped in and bought them.

On Sunday 8th May both 01.23 & 05.01 worked specials out of Sofia, the 01 an advertised public train and the 05 for a group of Danish tourists which returned ECS.

Also about to be restored are 36.10 a 2-8-4T built by Krupp at Sofia and 4-10-0 11.10 at Gorna Orjahovitsa. The locomotives have been restored to a very fine condition.

Also visited were two 'strategic reserves' now 'museum reserves'. At Kalojanovets,  the locomotives are all outside and rusting away, but at Asenovo they are under cover so are protected and here are still two 2-12-4T's.