Last steam to Leszno

Scheduled steam working at Wolsztyn in western Poland out-lasted the rest of the country by more than two decades, thanks principally to the efforts of Howard Jones MBE and his Wolsztyn Experience, which helped fund continued use of steam on services from the town to Poznan and Leszno by offering footplate experience courses, that have attracted enthusiasts from all over the world.

But changes at PKP Cargo, owner of Wolsztyn depot, and privatisation of the local passenger services, led to a funding crisis and the suspension of the remaining twice-daily Wolsztyn-Leszno service at the end of March 2014.

Three years on and things are looking a good deal brighter, however, with daily steam services resuming on 15 May 2017, after the re-hiring of a number of former locomotive crew and creation of a trust to oversee the depot’s operation. During the final week of scheduled operations in March 2014 services were in the hands of Ol49-59 – seen here on the 28-mile route from Wolsztyn to Leszno.