Branch Line to Poznan

Having made various films about railways in Britain, I decided to turn my hand to the scene abroad for a change.  Unfortunately time and mostly budget are working against me, not to mention the hazards of attempting to get to foreign climes with strikes, volcanic ash and the need to cross my legs for four hours to avoid having to spend a quid in order to spend a penny on the plane.  For those reasons, I decided not to travel abroad, but let abroad come to me.

The subject of the film was the Polish Slask loco 5485 on the Nene Valley that I’ve mentioned before, operating with a rake of Danish coaches in the Cambridgeshire countryside.  Quite a cosmopolitan mix, I’m sure you’ll agree.  Most of the footage was taken around the end of May during the monsoon season, and I wasn’t overly pleased with some of the results – particularly rain landing on the lens at Wansford.  On the other hand, there is a great moment at Ferry Meadows as the train lurches and gyrates into the scene amongst the lush green vegetation, and I quite like the tunnel shots as well.

The unusual loco and coach combination looks quite at home in many segments, and if you don’t look too  closely and suspend belief for five minutes, then it could almost be an Eastern European branch line.  Of course, there are several unmistakable British items that I couldn’t change – the NVR weren’t overly keen about my suggestion to cut down the signals and the station scene needed considerable editing to remove as much of the TPO set as possible.  But even the professionals get it wrong some times – the recent filming for ITV when remaking Murder on the Orient Express saw them use a BR Standard 5 on Belgian Wagon-Lits ostensibly at Istanbul!

The musical background needed to have an element of Eastern Europe about it to create some atmosphere and help set the scene.  After much searching and experimentation – none of which worked – I eventually settled on two pieces by Yann Tiersen, an artist who has composed several soundtracks – indeed I’ve used some of them previously in Grumpy Git Productions.  

The film is called Branch Line to Poznan, which is Poland’s fifth largest city.  I chose the place simply because it sounds Slavic and therefore the viewer expects to see an Eastern European branch line.  And if you think that that will disappoint, just be glad I didn’t use the working title of Pole Dancer.  Since editing began on this film, I’ve been out and about chasing 5485 again – and if you think the premise for this video is unlikely, just wait for the sequel …..

I’ve ended up with a quaint film featuring this interesting and quirky locomotive, and the best part is that the budget for the film came in at the same price as a having a number two on Ryanair.  Beat that!

Polish Plumbing Saves The Day

What do you do when your fifty-year-old boiler breaks down just before a bank holiday weekend?  There’s only one answer – call in a Polish plumber!  And that essentially was the problem down at the Nene Valley this weekend, with a three-train passenger service scheduled to run, but with the two principal steam locos (44422 and 73050) both sidelined with maintenance issues.  The Austerity J94 is out of action with big end problems thus compounding the shortage even more.  Whilst the ever dependable Thomas could be relied on for his Yarwell shuttles, the main line needed urgent assistance to provide the advertised service.  Unlike Notwork Rail, we don’t believe in simply giving up and going home at weekends with the vague promise of a bus to take you home.

Enter the ubiquitous class 14 diesels to work the Mk1 rake, and call in the Poles to provide us with a new boiler – in this case the recently overhauled PKP 0-8-0 Slask locomotive number 5485.  This would haul the Danish (DSB) set of coaches.  During the course of last week the loco has been named The Meg, but no one seems to know why. Or indeed, who Meg is.  This was great news for me as I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to film and travel behind this unusual machine ever since it emerged from the works in April after a lengthy rebuild.  5485 doesn’t generally work weekends, but instead works our midweek ‘Schools Specials’ with the four-car DSB rake.  These coaches are open saloons; for some reason the teachers of the schools groups prefer these to the compartments of the Mk1 stock!  I mean, what mischief could fifty schoolchildren possibly get up to in compartment coaches?  (Here’s a clue …)

A period poster advertising The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery from 1966.  A lengthy and highly entertaining chase involving a number of trains was filmed on the former Longmoor Military Railway - well worth watching, with a top-notch cast.  Perhaps because of these scenes, present day teachers prefer to keep their pupils where they can see just what the little darlings are up to!

As 5485 works these services it usually has weekends off when the other locos take over.  So it made a pleasant change to be able to ‘go Continental’ over the Bank Holiday period.  Meg is an interesting loco, and has a highly individualistic character of her own.  Built specifically to move long and heavy coal trains back home in native Poland, finesse is not one of her strong points.  Control of the loco is all-or-nothing according to the crews who work her on a regular basis.  Open the regulator a little to move away and nothing happens.  Open a tad more – still nothing.  A smidgen more, and Meg suddenly leaps into a life like an unsuspecting MP who’s just picked up The Daily Telegraph on expenses day.  Once on the move, 5485 truly has a life of her own. The long body overhang extends fore and aft over the eight close-coupled small-diameter driving wheels, which means that the loco bounces, twists and sways along all at the same time.  Regular crews take seasickness pills along for the ride.  Every rail joint and piece of pointwork is transmitted and magnified up through the bodywork and onto the footplate.  Standing still is an achievement in itself – grab hold of a handrail as the cab twists and lurches, then gyrate in time to the unpredictable motion in an attempt to stay more on less upright.  The whole crew resemble a party night down at The Bigg Market on Saturday night – and of course all of this explains the origination of the term ‘Pole Dancer.’  See, you’ve learnt something.

I spent all three days down at the NVR, with Saturday nominated as a filming day (rained dawn till dusk, naturally), Sunday as TTI on the Mk1 rake and relief booking office on Monday.  These turns allowed some breaks to get the odd bit of filming done, in addition to the very soggy photography session on Saturday.  Indeed on Monday I finished early enough to lurch down the line as far as Ferry Meadows on Meg’s last turn, in order to film the return trip back to Wansford.  It was a varied and enjoyable weekend, and I plan to produce a Polish film in due course.  In the meantime my washing machine has developed a fault, so as soon as the lads have finished coaling up Meg ready for next week, I’m off to have a word.

Murmurs on the Krakow Express

I've been playing around with all the left overs and out-takes from my recent Polish railway trips, and put them altogether along with some photos into a short film. I'm no Speilburg so don't expect too much; but it's an interesting view of foreign rail travel, and just a bit of a change from the norm.

All aboard! (Position cursor over video screen for controls).

Music: Bach Toccata performed by Sky, 1980.

A Great Railway Journey

Although not directly modelling related, my recent visit to Poland gave me the opportunity to travel on a real railway first hand, which was a fascinating experience indeed. I undertook a day return from Jaworzno to Krakow, with both trains consisting of a ‘proper’ electric locomotive and coaches. Each trip was by a Polish Railways (PKP) Inter City train, with a loco looking not unlike former BR class 81 / 85, and coaches that looked to date from around the mid 1960’s or so – comparable to a Mk1 or early Mk2 vehicle. These coaches are very comfortable and clean with a superb quality of ride and hark back to the days of when rail travel in the UK was about a service for passengers, rather than making a profit for directors and shareholders. Coaches have compartments that seat 8 (in second class), and the best feature of all – windows that open so that you lean out and watch, or photograph, the passing scenery. Here is a snapshot of the two journeys I made on these trains:

Our train pulls into Jaworzno Szczakowa, being the
06:35 from Wroclaw that would continue to Przemysl arriving at 15:35.

Permanent Way workers get on with a repair job as the train passes by -
no weekend closures with bus replacements in Poland!

Lush green vegetation flanks the well maintained and smooth railway.
Windows that open are a real blast from the past!
Just what is needed in the 35 degree celsius heat of the day.

Passing a northbound express during the
only intermediate station stop at Trzebinia.

A Polish Railways (PKP-Cargo) freight loco stabled outside Trzebinia Station.

The Polish countryside from the train - note the complete absence of 8 foot high palisade fencing or barriers at the open level crossing. Polish people understand that walking or driving along a busy railway line isn't conducive to a long and healthy life, so they don't need miles and miles of expensive and unneccessary fencing to keep them off. Who needs rules when you can use commonsense, eh, Gordon?

Arriving at Krakow Glowny station over a junction that is a PW worker's
dream of double slips and diamond crossings.
The signal box that controls the busy area is situated to the left.

It ain't pretty, is it? This loco was stabled in Krakow for a later turn in the day.

With the sightseeing stuff out of the way, time to return to the station for our return trip to Jaworzno. This provided the opportunity to see another EP13 loco, this time in charge of a southbound Inter City service.


Our train back to Jaworzno was the 19:14 from Krakow, although it had started it's journey several hours previously at Rzescow. The ultimate destination was the Baltic seaside resort of Kolobrzeg (pronounced, would you believe as 'Co-obzjay) where arrival would be at 07:58 the following morning. Consequently, the consist contained sleeping cars and couchettes towards the rear of the train for long distance travellers.


All coaches carry these useful route boards, which denote principle intermediate stations and the final destination. These are invaluable because information at stations, even a major city like Krakow, is somewhat sketchy to say the least - and I'm being polite here.


The train heads out of Krakow, passing the major carriage servicing depot on the way. The former green and cream PKP livery is being phased out and replaced by the smart silver / grey scheme for Inter City trains, as seen on the coach on the right. Sleeping cars and couchettes receive the blue, red and white livery (centre vehicie) that immediately reminded me of Network South-East!

During the trip I decided to try out the video function on my Samsung Camera. I was pleasantly surprised by the results, never having videoed anything in my life before. This first clip was taken on the outskirts of Krakow, at a business park currently under construction. Our train passed a local EMU making a station stop at the new station. (Move mouse cursor over video for 'Start' button).

Back at Jaworzno, I had another go at filming, this time capturing our train departing for the next stage of the journey to the coast. Minutes later, a brand new EMU commuter service rolled in. It was great to stand at the end of a platform and not be abused by officious idiots in high-viz with nothing better to do than accuse me of being an international train bomber.

All in all, an excellent day of train travel, that brought back the romance and enjoyment of travelling by rail.