Bieszczady Forest Train

Looking like those known from the western movies, the forest train travels along the narrow-gauge tracks through the Bieszczady valleys. Its itinerary amidst the green sea of the Carpathian primeval forest is revealed by the whistle and clouds of steam issued by the small locomotive, climbing up the next hill. The winding railway is often marked with the footprints of the largest inhabitants of these woods: bears, wolves and lynxes.

The history of the Bieszczady Forest Train goes back to the late 1800s. This is when this cost-effective means of transport was gaining popularity and as a result the construction of the narrow-gauge railway tracks was also initiated in this mountainous area. The first part of the tracks from Nowy Łupków to Cisna opened in 1898. From that day on, the freight trains carried timber from the Carpathian hamlets to the depot in Nowy Łupków, where it was reloaded onto the cargo trains that would take it to Przemyśl and then to the farthest corners of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

The good time of the prosperity of the Bieszczady railway was interrupted by the two wars that affected Europe. During World War I, the railway was used by the armies that marched in succession across the Carpathian Mountains fighting a positional warfare, particularly fierce in this area. During the Second World War, the railway was again badly devastated: the equipment was either destroyed or removed from here, and as a result there was no usable rolling stock when the war came to an end.

It was not until the late 1950s / early 1960s that positive changes took place. A timber  processing plant was launched in Rzepedź and raw materials were to be supplied by  railway transport. At that time, new lines were built and the old tracks were upgraded. Until the 1990s, you could hear the puffing of the brave little locomotive delivering timber to the plant, and carrying passengers, local people and tourists, to other towns scattered in the mountains. This is how, for example, you would get to Duszatyn, in order to hike from there towards Mount Chryszczata to the famous Duszatyn Lakes.

The transition to a free market economy following the political changes of 1989 did not benefit the Bieszczady railway. Indeed, timber industry turned out to be unprofitable and nobody needed the rolling stock, which was more and more affected by rust.

Some people, however, did not want the Bieszczady train to vanish. They established  the Forest Train Foundation which worked to preserve the narrow-gauge tracks, and as a result of their efforts in 1997 the forest train resumed operation carrying tourists  along the track between Majdan and Przysłup (11 km). The following year tourists were able to take the train to reach the Balnica station (9 km) located right on the border with Slovakia. And this is still the case today. You can jump onto the train at the main station in Majdan (along the road from Cisna to Komańcza) to go on a three-hour trip to Przysłup and back, or on a two-hour trip to Balnica and back. 

The train runs regularly, starting from the long weekend in the first days of May to the end of October. For organised groups, rides can be arranged throughout the year. You can find out more about the timetable on the website of the Foundation: www.kolejka.bieszczady.pl

The Bieszczady Coo Choo is one of the most popular attractions in this area. The number of passengers is increasing every year. In 2007 it carried over 50,000 passengers, this number doubled in 2014 and exceeded 150,000 in 2019.

Especially popular are the trips when the rolling stock is pulled by a steam engine, as it is usually a diesel powered locomotive. However, the most important thing is always the journey through the Bieszczady forest.

The Bieszczady Forest Train was also appreciated by Ryan Socash in one of his films promoting the beauty of the Podkarpackie region.