Samoborček

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Samoborček
Locale Croatia, Slovenia
Dates of operation January 14, 1901–December 31, 1979
Track gauge 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in)
Headquarters Zagreb
A Samoborček Silver arrow train in motion (pictured in 1970)
Monument in Samobor

Samoborček /ˈsɑːmoʊbɔərtʃɛk/ is the name given to an historic Croatian narrow gauge railway linking Zagreb with Samobor onwards to Bregana, which operated from 1901 through 1979.[1] [2]

History

Initially, Samoborček was projected as cargo train, to connect Samobor companies with growing Zagreb industry and market because the only connection was horse omnibus.[1] Railway was public company until end of second war, when it was nationalized and became "Gradska željeznica Zagreb-Samobor" ("Zagreb-Samobor City Railway").[2] Eventually, the railway was neglected in favor of truck and bus traffic and interrupted operation in 1979.[1] All infrastructure was abandoned and dismantled.

Rail track

The Samoborček railway consisted of a single-tracked narrow-gauge line operating on the so-called Bosnian gauge at 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in). Initially the line had a length of 19 kilometres (12 miles), from Zagreb to Samobor via Podsused; in the 1950s the track was extended some additional kilometres to Bregana and military overhaul workshops in what is today Slovenia.[1]

Stations were:

  • Zagreb S.K.
  • Selska cesta
  • Kustošija
  • Vrapče
  • Vrapče bolnica
  • Stenjevec
  • Stenjevec Gornji
  • Goljak
  • Susedgrad
  • Bestovje
  • Orešje
  • Strmec
  • Nedelja
  • Domaslovec
  • Samobor
  • Samobor kupalište
  • Lug
  • Bregana stajalište
  • Bregana tvornica

Rolling stock

Until the 1950s there were various steam engine driven compositions. Average speed was 15 to 20 km/h (10 - 12 mph). From the 1950s until end of operation DMU aluminium compositions, officially called DEV and nicknamed "Srebrna strijela" ("Silver arrow") took over, with max speed of 50 km/h (30 mph).[1][2]

Remains

Although all tracks were removed, a large part of other railway infrastructure (embankments, bridges) survives today, usually without function. Most of railway stations and embankments survived, mostly they were converted into shops, restaurants and warehouses. A steam locomotive which once operated the line is on permanent display in Samobor.

Future development

A new link has been announced and is due to be built in 2008-2012. This link will be standard gauge and tie in with normal Croatian Railways operations, with max speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 (Croatian) "Da je bilo više osjećaja i novca, i danas bi »Samoborček« vozio svojim uskim tračnicama". Vjesnik. 2001-01-14. Retrieved 2008-01-21. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (Croatian) "Samoborček". Retrieved 2008-01-21. 
  3. ↑ (Croatian) "Samoborček se vraća u Zagreb". Vjesnik. 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2008-01-21. 
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