Railways - Poland: Illustrated History Books & Guides

The Magic of Steam: Steam locomotives in Poland 1987-1991

Poland, Europe's last stronghold of steam. Coal dirt, sooty oily sheds, cinders and ash, water towers and coal bunkers nestling beside branch lines overgrown with grass. The last steam express train in Europe and the still-living remains of a former vast net of narrow gauge lines. The end of the steam era in Poland.

Step inside and enjoy the atmosphere of the old railway world. Maybe get some inspiration for your model railway? The book contains a ?ne selection of the author's railway photos from Poland.
Petter Nyborg has been a steam locomotive driver and ?reman for more than 35 years, driving veteran trains in Norway. Himself a model railway enthusiast, Petter organized several railway tours in Poland between 1987 and 1991.

Product details

Author:	Petter Nyborg
Details:	116 pages, 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.28 in (23 x 15.5 x 0.7 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Independently Published (USA, 2021)
ISBN:	9798686520899

Loks der Polnischen Staatsbahnen PKP - seit 1945 (Typenkompass)

Railway enthusiasts are increasingly interested in the railways in the eastern neighbouring countries. Their vehicles are the main focus of interest. The Polish State Railways PKP is particularly popular because it has gained international recognition with its steam locomotive depot in Wolsztyn.
The Polish railway industry is also increasingly successful: in 2014, a subsidiary of DB AG received and used railcars from a Polish manufacturer for the first time.

Pages of the book "Loks der Polnischen Staatsbahnen PKP - seit 1945"

Each type is presented with a photo, a historical description and technical data.

Product details

Author:	Thomas Estler
Details:	128 pages, 8.1 x 5.5 in (20.5 x 14 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	9 b&w and 120 color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Transpress (D, 2013)
Series:	Typenkompass
ISBN:	9783613714663

Schienen verbinden Deutschland und Polen

The German-Polish border, established after the Second World War, stretches along the Oder and (Lusatian) Neisse. The German Democratic Republic (GDR) signed the treaty with the People's Republic of Poland on this "peace border" in 1950.
The Federal Republic of Germany recognized it in 1970. Over the last 70 years, good neighborly relations have developed between Germany and Poland, strengthened by Poland's accession to the EU in 2004 and the Schengen Agreement in 2007.

Liberalisation and interoperability in rail transport are increasingly removing commercial and technical barriers across borders. This book examines in detail the history and future of the stations at these crossings, which are mostly operated as joint stations.
Current track plans, historical and modern photos document rail traffic across the Oder and Neisse. Overview maps and tables provide a clear overview, while a statistical section presents the technical data of Polish locomotives.

Product details

Author:	Bernd Kuhlmann
Details:	288 pages, 11.6 x 9.25 x 0.87 in (29.5 x 23.5 x 2.2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	172 b&w and 364 color photos, 74 drawings
Language:	German
Publisher:	Bildverlag Böttger GbR (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783965640009

Lokomotywy spalinowe produkcji polskiej

A book devoted to the history of the construction and development of all types of standard-gauge, wide-gauge and narrow-gauge diesel locomotives manufactured by:
- Pierwszą Fabrykę Lokomotyw w Polsce S.A. (FabLok) in Chrzanów
- Wytwórnię Parowozów Zakładów Ostrowieckich in Warsaw
- Zakłady Mechaniczne Hipolita Cegielskiego in Poznań
- Zakłady Naprawcze Taboru Kolejowego (ZNTK)
- and many smaller industrial plants and workshops.

Both native designs and those produced on the basis of foreign licenses have been described. The description of the construction of each locomotive is completed with drawings and photos.
Shunting and line locomotives for PKP, industrial locomotives, including special locomotives for coal mines (underground and surface) and unrealized diesel locomotive designs are presented.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Bogdan Pokropiński
Details:	240 pages, 9.7 x 7.7 x 0.59 in (24.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	168 photos and drawings
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2016)
ISBN:	9788320617313

Parowozy normalnotorowe produkcji polskiej

Bogdan Pokropiński, a well-known author of many publications on the history of railways, this time presents the readers the history and construction of all series and types of Polish standard-gauge steam locomotives, as well as export broad-gauge steam locomotives, manufactured by:
- First Lokomotive Factory in Poland S.A. in Chrzanów
- Warszawska Spółka Akcyjna Budowy Parawozów in Warsaw
- Zakłady Mechaniczne Hipolita Cegielskiego in Poznań
- and Zakłady Konstrukcze Taboru Kolejowego in Wrocław.

The steam locomotives are both of native construction and manufactured on the basis of foreign licenses. Therefore, there are steam locomotives for PKP (fast, passenger, cargo), industrial locomotives, steam locomotives manufactured exclusively for export (also broad-gauge) and unrealized steam locomotive designs. The description of each type is supplemented by a drawing and photographs.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Bogdan Pokropiński
Details:	292 pages, 9.8 x 7.7 x 0.98 in (25 x 19.5 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	203 photos and drawings
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2018)
ISBN:	9788320616170

Elektryfikacja Warszawskiego Wezla Kolej 1933-1950

One of the largest transport investments in interwar Poland was the modernization of the Warsaw railway hub. It included the construction of a partially underground cross-city line with the Warszawa Główna station and the electrification of three main suburban railway lines.
The introduction of electric traction in the late 1930s was one of the greatest technological advances in the history of Polish State Railways. The modernization included modern rolling stock, advanced power supply and traffic control systems, improved railway infrastructure, and better passenger comfort through new stations and renovated platforms.

This book provides a comprehensive history of the investment, based on archival documents, source materials from the 1930s and 1940s, and later studies. It describes the early days of electric traction on PKP and features rich illustrations.
The publication includes photographs of the first electrification works and train operations, as well as drawings, diagrams, tables, timetables, and technical data of Poland's first electric locomotives and trainsets. Additionally, it contains previously unpublished statistical summaries on the post-war operation of these vehicles.

Product details

Author:	Marek Ćwikła
Details:	160 pages, 11.4 x 8.1 in (29 x 20.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Dom Wydawniczy Księży Młyn (PL, 2023)
ISBN:	9788377297209

Kolej między wojnami

After the years of partition and the First World War, trains in Poland brought life to the tracks of modernity. Like the legendary lucstorpedo, they exhilarated with their speed, facilitated communication and overturned notions of traversing space.
The electrification of railways, the rebuilding of the Warsaw Railway Junction, the construction of the so-called coal trunk line linking Upper Silesia with Gdynia are just a selection of inter-war investments that improved travel comfort and significantly increased the capacity of freight transport.

The tale of railways between the wars is a story about breaking barriers, breaking records and a certain ethos. Punctuality, reliability, dependability!
On the railways it was not to be a bluff. The work of a railwayman, which commanded general respect and provided a decent livelihood, was the dream of many. Social gatherings were held on special trains, daily journeys to work set the pace of inter-war life.

You can see it all again. Taking a comfortable seat in the carriage, make your way through the pages of this richly illustrated book.
This book comes with complimentary extras:
- a reprint of the 1939 PKP network map
- a DVD with a montage of archive footage of inter-war railways.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Dawid Keller
Details:	144 pages, 12.6 x 8.7 x 0.59 in (32 x 22 x 1.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Dom Wydawniczy Księży Młyn (PL, 2016)
ISBN:	9788377293362

Lux-torpeda PKP

The book is devoted to the most famous motor carriages in the history of the Polish State Railways, which, due to their streamlined shape and high speed, were commonly called "lux-torpedoes". In 1936, five such units were built by the "First Lokomotive Factory in Poland S.A." in Chrzanów, on the basis of a license purchased from the "Austro-Daimler-Puch" company.

These units have become a synonym of modern Polish railways, and despite the fact that more than 50 years have passed since the last one was scrapped, the memory of these legendary motor wagons has survived to this day.
The book describes the history of the SAx series carriages and their design. The content is supplemented by numerous archival photographs and drawings.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Bogdan Pokropiński
Details:	60 pages, 10 x 7.9 x 0.31 in (25.5 x 20 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	73 photos and drawings
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2018)
ISBN:	9788320606942

Parowozy wąskotorowe produkcji polskiej

In Poland, in the twenties of the last century, two factories started the production of narrow-gauge steam locomotives: "The First Locomotive Factory in Poland S.A." (Fablok) in Chrzanów and the "Warszawska Spółka Akcyjna Budowy Parowozów" (WSABP) in Warsaw.
The last narrow-gauge steam locomotive of the Warsaw factory, renamed in 1935 as "Wytwórnia Parowozów Zakładów Ostrowieckich", was produced in 1938.
In the Chrzanów factory, production continued during the Second World War for the needs of the German occupier and in the post-war period, until 1959.

In total, 2226 narrow-gauge steam locomotives were manufactured by Polish factories, of which 2178 were produced by Fablok and 48 by WSABP. Of these, almost 1,000 were exported. There were also many steam locomotive projects which were not implemented for various reasons.

The book presents all types and series of narrow-gauge steam locomotives manufactured in Polish factories for the Polish State Railways (PKP), for industry, construction, forestry, agriculture and for foreign customers. Most were the work of local designers, but some were manufactured under foreign license.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Bogdan Pokropiński
Details:	212 pages, 10 x 7.9 x 0.79 in (25.5 x 20 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	176 photos and drawings, 34 tables
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2016)
ISBN:	9788320619638

Pomnik parowóz - die polnischen Denkmaldampflokomotiven

A travel guide to the history, stories and present of all standard gauge museum and memorial steam locomotives in Poland.

Many railway enthusiasts immediately associate Poland with Wolsztyn. Pure scheduled steam, loved by some, derisively referred to by others as the British playground because of the previous financial support from the kingdom.
But Poland offers much more for railway and technology enthusiasts. There are 319 standard gauge steam locomotives to marvel at in the country; many with Prussian or German roots. Be it as a monument, as a wreck in the hope of better times or as a museum piece lovingly cared for by the country's countless railway enthusiasts.
That is only half of the locomotives preserved in Germany. But in addition to the representatives of the successful Polish series, there are numerous exhibits from the first half of the 20th century that are unique worldwide.

An enormous historical treasure that is well worth a visit! But where can you find the locomotives? Most people know Wolsztyn, of course, and they have heard that there are museums in Chabówka and Warsaw, but after that the information becomes much thinner. Until now!

This book is intended to serve as a travel guide for you even without prior knowledge. It will show you the locations of the locomotives, document their current condition and tell the history and stories of the vehicles.
It is deliberately not a compilation of tables and data on the history of railways, but a story from everyday use. 700 photos from yesterday and today - over 200 of them in color - allow you to immerse yourself in the world of Polish-Prussian railway history.

Product details

Author:	Bastian Königsmann
Details:	536 pages, 8.7 x 6.7 x 1.26 in (22 x 17 x 3.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	500 b&w and 200+ color photos
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Books on Demand (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783750412019

Szerokim torem - LHS

The LHS (Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa, formerly Linia Hutniczo-Siarkowa from 1976 to 2001) is Poland's longest railway line with a broad gauge (1520 mm) commonly used in former USSR countries. The book provides accessible insights into the rationale behind constructing such an atypical railway line, connecting Hrubieszów with the Dąbrowa Basin.

The publication intricately details the route variations, construction, and ongoing operation, including aspects such as traction rolling stock and passenger traffic. Richly illustrated with photographs, some previously unpublished, the book documents the LHS from its construction to the present day.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Tomasz Ciemnoczułowski
Details:	114 pages, 11.8 x 8.25 x 0.75 in (30 x 21 x 1.9 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Dom Wydawniczy Księży Młyn (PL, 2018)
ISBN:	9788361253341

Wąskotorowe wagony spalinowe w Polsce

This book presents all series of narrow-gauge motor carriages used in Poland from 1926 to the beginning of the 21st century, on railways with track widths: 600, 750, 785, 800 and 1000 mm.
There are wagons built both in Poland (by factories and by the "economic method" by narrow-gauge railroad workshops), as well as those purchased abroad and taken over in 1945 from German railways.

The construction of individual series of wagons is described and, if possible, the fate of individual wagons. In total, there were over 130 diesel carriages on the narrow tracks in Poland. At the moment there are only a few active, and a few cars are preserved in closed museum.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Bogdan Pokropiński
Details:	188 pages, 9.7 x 7.9 x 0.35 in (24.5 x 20 x 0.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2020)
ISBN:	9788320620092