Railway Museums in the Czech Republic August 2012

Lužná u Rakovníka

The English home page of the CD Museum website (http://www.cdmuzeum.cz/en/) still links to the Event calendar for 2011. The actual 2012 calendar has an error with the dates quoted for the Kolešovka steam trains ( 7-25 August 2012 every Saturday should actually read 7.7 to 25.8.2012 every Saturday ). Stored on the website with no direct link is the English language leaflet that is handed out on entry to the museum (www.os.cd.cz/muzeum/files/English-ec06cd63375ecffc16a8c6a565036d4c.pdf - link dead by July 2020). It contains a site map of the museum which makes the reports by James Waite & Chris Yapp easier to understand.

There is an approx. hourly service from Praha-Masarykovo to Luzna from 08:02, except between 10:02 & 12:02. Arrive with a valid CD rail ticket (not for nostalgic trains) and receive 20% discount off the entrance fee.

Like other museums Luzna is no longer open on Mondays except on holidays.

Stored in the roundhouse 2 road depository was 556.0271 (the doors were shut on this road so this loco just fits inside and it was not possible to walk around to the other side) and 556.031. In the adjacent exhibition area of the roundhouse with the doors open at the front were 433.049, 387.043, 524.159, M124.001, 477.043, and stuck inside 310.076, 0-6-0T No.29 & 0-6-0T No.6. The 3rd part of the roundhouse was locked. Displayed outside the roundhouse were 464.053, 300.619 & 324.391.

On display at the western end of the museum were 555.3221 at the head of a freight stock rake & 555.0153 at the head of a rake of coaches.

Outside the narrow gauge shed on display was No.7, No.21 & BS80 No.32.

The turntable area was kept clear so that 556.036 which arrived with the Krivoklatsky Express from Praha-Branik could be turned. Below 556.036 running round train at Beroun, Krivoklatsky Express and departing the turntable at Luzna after being turned, Krivoklatsky Express, both 4th August 2012.

The repair hall was closed.

Vlečka Kněževes

The Kolešovka 2012 was operated  on 4th August 2012. with 423.094 running bunker first from Luzna. At the Knezeves sidings as well as 310.037 & 422.098 there is a partly restored boiler (no tubes), smokebox & chimney from 423.094 which was purchased as a spare by KHKD. 423.094 is running with the boiler from 423.086 which was scrapped in 1980. Here it runs round its train at Krupa, Kolešovka.

Národní Technické Muzeum

This museum is no longer open on Mondays except on holidays. Be wary of visiting when it is hot outside with no wind – the day I visited it was 29° outside with no wind and there is no air conditioning in the Transport Hall, the open windows and extractor fans were ineffective so it was very hot & sticky inside. The locos and aircraft could do with a good dust off.

Železniční muzeum Výtopna Jaroměř

This museum runs main line steam trains during the year. However their loco 423.0145 is currently broken so it has missed 4 days running this year. They have managed to borrow 310.0134 to run some of their trains.

Locos seen on 07 Aug 2012 were: -

ČSD 310.006 0-6-0T Wiener Neustadt/1878.
ČSD 365.024 2-6-2 CKD/1923 (stored outside incomplete).
ČSD 365.025 2-6-2 CKD/1923 (just the 2-6 part of a severed chassis stored outside).
ČSD 403.303 0-8-0T StEG/1880.
ČSD 404.003 0-8-2RT Floridsdorf/1901.
ČSD 411.019 0-8-0 Wiener Neustadt/1873 "Conrad Vorlauf" (This loco is under a long term major restoration to steam again).
ČSD 414.404 0-8-0 StEG/1894.
ČSD 423.0145 2-8-2T CKD/1937 (operational but currently under repair).
ČSD 434.0170 2-8-0 Wiener Neustadt 5496/1919.
Králův Dvůr
Steelworks No.15 0-4-0T CKD 3200/1951 (650mm gauge)

The roundhouse is very dark inside, and the roof leaks in several places when it rains!! I was greeted by young friendly staff.

Here is a view of the roundhouse on 7th August 2012, and an interesting station name board as a Czech company is sub-contracted as consultants to the current Victoria Station Upgrade in London.

Whilst at the museum I heard a steam whistle and running to the track side I saw 464.008 backing into a siding at Jaromer, prior to departing later in a heavy rain shower. It is apparently kept at Hradec Králové.

An excellent website in several languages which gives details of all special trains (Events Calendar) in the Czech Republic - http://www.zelpage.cz/