Upper Silesian Narrow Gauge Railway

The Upper Silesian Narrow Gauge Railway, known locally as the "rosbanka", is a historic line with a track gauge of 785 mm that now carries tourists on a 21 km route from Bytom via Tarnowskie Góry to Miasteczko Śląskie. The network was built in the mid-19th century to move raw materials and semi-finished goods between mines and ironworks. Its operator describes it as the oldest continuously operating narrow-gauge railway in the world, and along the way you can get off near the Historic Silver Mine or at a reservoir.

History: a railway to replace horse carts

Before the railway, goods were moved by horse-drawn carts and transport could not keep pace with industrial growth. The typical gauge of 785 mm, or 30 Prussian inches, was adopted in 1846, and the Upper Silesian Railway Company received a concession for two main lines, initially horse-drawn, on 24 March 1851. The network is considered to have opened in 1854; in 1854–1857 the Tarnowskie Góry – Wirek and Bytom Karb – Bogucice – Kunegunda Ironworks sections were built. The first steam locomotives entered service in 1855, though horses continued to work alongside them for years.

The railway grew fast. In 1870 traffic exceeded 1 million tonnes, in 1884 the Kingdom of Prussia nationalised the network, and by 1901 it had more than 138 km of main lines, 51 locomotives and 3,693 goods wagons. When Upper Silesia was divided in 1922, the border cut the network in several places. After 1945 the lines were taken over by Polish State Railways (PKP) and for decades served the industry of the Upper Silesian Industrial District.

Saved by enthusiasts

In 2001 PKP decided to wind up most of Poland's narrow-gauge railways. A group of enthusiasts persuaded the authorities of Bytom, Tarnowskie Góry and Miasteczko Śląskie to take over the tracks and some of the carriages and locomotives; since April 2002 the line has belonged to the municipalities. In July 2003 the Upper Silesian Narrow Gauge Railway Society was founded, and it still runs the trains and maintains the rolling stock with about 20 active members, mostly volunteers.

Route and stops

• Bytom Wąskotorowy – by Bytom's main station, on the Zabrzańska Street side.
• Sucha Góra – on Łokietka Street.
• Kopalnia Srebra – on Staffa Street, about a 7-minute walk to the Historic Silver Mine.
• Tarnowskie Góry Wąskotorowe – by the Blachnickiego roundabout, Bytomska Street.
• Miasteczko Śląskie Zalew – about a 5-minute walk from the reservoir.

Tripto tips

Trains run seasonally according to timetables published by the society, and besides regular services there are special trains, such as the Halloween "Death Train", and charters for events. Before you go, check the timetable, ticket prices and whether you can return the same day. The best plan is a trip with a stop at the Silver Mine or at the reservoir in Miasteczko Śląskie. The society is also setting up a Tradition Room – a small railway museum – and collects donations to keep the line running.