Narrow gauge railways and trams - Poland: books

Tramwaje w Polsce

This book presents the history, development, and the most important technical aspects - rolling stock and infrastructure - of all tram networks that operated or are in operation (2012) in the country within its present borders and three operating in areas outside of Poland.

According to the definition, a tram is an urban rail vehicle. In some cases, however, it raises a problem: can it be unequivocally stated that the described network was in fact a tram and not a local commuter train, especially if it was subject to railway regulations.
Such dilemmas concern the networks that operated in: Strumień, Wąbrzeźno, Walim, but also in Łódź (two sections were temporarily serviced by steam locomotives) and in Warsaw (the Electric Commuter Rail network). They are included in the book because these networks most frequently used tram-type rolling stock and they functioned in the public transport system.

The publication consists of 39 chapters written by 30 authors. It is enriched by the flow diagrams of each network, tables with the most important information, interesting facts and unique archival and contemporary photos.

Text in Polish.

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Tramwajem przez Polskę w 1974 roku / By Tram Across Poland In 1974 / Mit der Straßenbahn durch Polen

NEW

The year is 1974. Michael Russell and Peter Haseldine embark on a journey to the Polish People's Republic to explore the country's tram systems. The British transport enthusiasts visited several cities, capturing the reality of communist Poland in vivid color photographs.
These images provide a valuable record of everyday life at the time. Trams take center stage in this unique photo reportage, with streets, cars, tram loops, tenement houses, housing estates, shops, and residents dressed in period fashion forming the backdrop.

Compiled by Jacek Pudło, this book is a must-have for urban transport enthusiasts, those interested in the history of communist Poland, and automotive history lovers. A special feature is a detailed list of trams in operation in Poland in 1974, prepared by Tomasz Igielski.
The book offers a journey back to the mid-1970s, presenting Poland through the eyes of Western visitors.

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Kolej grójecka

A book from the series devoted to Warsaw Commuter Railways. It presents the history of the Grójec railway - the most famous Warsaw narrow-gauge railway, existing to this day under the name of the Piaseczno Narrow-Gauge Railway.

In its history, this railway has had periods of turbulent development, stagnation and slow decline, and at present it is a tourist railway. During World War II, this railway was used to "smuggle" most food to occupied Warsaw. In the first post-war years, the Grójec railway was often the only means of communication with Warsaw for many - it carried 20 million passengers a year.

The whole is illustrated with unique archival photographs. Narrow-gauge railway enthusiasts will also find drawings, photographs, descriptions and lists of the rolling stock and engineering structures used in the book.

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Kolej jabłonowska

The third and last book in the series devoted to Warsaw Commuter Railways. It presents the history of the Jabłonów Railway - a narrow-gauge railway on the right bank of the Vistula River operating in the years 1900-1963.
Until 1914 it was a railway from Jabłonna to Wawer, in its heyday it connected Jabłonna with Karczew, and from 1956 it existed in a rudimentary form - from Otwock to Karczew.

During World War II, it was merged by the German occupier with the Marki Railway. It was the Jabłonów railway that smuggled significant amounts of meat and cold cuts from Karczew, bread from Falenica and counterfeit spirits from Jabłonna to Warsaw throughout the occupation.
The Wawer - Wiązowna Horse Railway, operating until 1939, and the "war" line from Wawer to Zegrze operating in the years 1916-1923 are also described.

The content of the book is enriched by numerous archival photographs documenting the history of this now non-existent railway. Railway enthusiasts will also find descriptions, drawings and photographs of rolling stock and station facilities.

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Sochaczewska kolej wąskotorowa

The book is devoted to the history of the Sochaczew narrow-gauge railway, which in 2012 celebrated its 90th anniversary. Descriptions, drawings and archival photographs of engineering structures, passenger and freight wagons used, steam locomotives, diesel cars, diagrams of stations and passenger stops, as well as maps with marked railway lines in the vicinity of Sochaczew.

A narrow-gauge forest railway in the Kampinos Forest, which no longer exists, is also described, related to the Sochaczew narrow-gauge railway.

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Kolej wilanowska

The book devoted to the Warsaw Commuter Railways presents the history of the Wilanów Railway. The Wilanów Railway was established in 1891 as a horse-drawn railway and operated until 1936, when, after partial liquidation of the tracks, it was incorporated into the Grójec Railway.

The book contains numerous archival photographs and descriptions, drawings of rolling stock and engineering structures.

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