Rudy Narrow-Gauge Railway Station

The station in Rudy is the preserved building of a former narrow-gauge railway station, which now houses a museum and from which historic trains depart. It lies on a former line of 785 millimetre gauge, in Rudy, and belongs to the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship.

History of the line and the station

The station was opened on 25 March 1899 as part of the line from Gliwice to Rudy. The line was built by the company Kramer & Co. under a concession of 1897, and in 1903 it reached its final length, as far as Racibórz-Płonia. After the Second World War the railway became part of the PKP network as the Upper Silesian Narrow-Gauge Railways. Passenger traffic ended in 1991-1992, and the Rudy - Gliwice section was closed in 1992.

Monument and museum

The station building has survived in its original form and was entered in the heritage register in 1993. It was opened to visitors on 24 January 1994, and in 2006 the station joined the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship. The station lies at kilometre 41.1 of the line Bytom Karb Wąskotorowy - Markowice Raciborskie Wąskotorowe.

On the station grounds there is a locomotive shed. Rides in passenger carriages to Paproć and to the Narrow-Gauge Lodge (Stanica Wąskotorowa) depart from here, as well as rides on hand-pumped trolleys. There is also an interactive exhibition in VR technology, and since August 2011 the steam locomotive Las49 has been running. The site is managed by the Municipal Centre for Tourism and Promotion in Rudy.

Steam locomotive rides

According to the station's website, the offer includes themed trips on the history of the region and the railway, evening rides for families, night runs with stories and guided visits. The basic route runs on the section Rudy - Stanica - Rudy. In autumn, in October, events from the Pumpkin Station Rudy series are organised.

Nearby

In the same village stands the Basilica of Our Lady of Humility in Rudy, and in the area lies the Cistercian Landscape Compositions of Rudy Wielkie Landscape Park.

Practical information

• Address: Szkolna 1, 47-430 Rudy.
• Tickets and ride reservations are handled by the website kolejkarudy.pl.
• Rides depend on the condition of the track and the season, and when the website was checked a break in services was explained by track repairs, so check the current timetable before you travel.