Izera railway
Encyclopedia
Izera railway is a line connecting Polish
town Jelenia Góra
(Hirschberg) with Szklarska Poręba
(Schreiberhau). It is a part of former Prussian Zackenbahn, that used to connect Prussia
with the Austro-Hungarian Empire via the New World Pass. The line is currently operated by PKP
.
). The complete track was opened in 1902, together with the Cog railway Tannwald-Grünthal. The line was electrified in 1923.
In April 1945 most of the locomotives were evacuated. Some were captured in the border station Polaun/Grünthal by the advancing Red Army
. After the war, the electric equipment was dismounted and together with the remaining locomotives transported to the Soviet Union
as reparation.
Silesia
was transferred to Poland, and cross-border traffic was abolished. Following an exchange of border territories between Czechoslovakia
and Poland, the Bohemian part was extended to Harrachov, that became a new terminal station.
Polish State Railways (PKP) operated passenger trains as far as Szklarska Poręba Huta (Josephinenhütte) and freight trains as far as Jakuszyce. The track as far as Szklarska Poręba Górna was electrified again in 1987. Except for a one-day celebration on the 100th anniversary in 2002, cross border traffic was never restored. Due to decision of Common Monitoring Committee of Operational Programme of European Transborder Cooperation Czech Republic - Poland 2007-2013 the execution of the project "Revitalization of the railway line Szklarska Poreba - Harrachov" will be provided. Project in question has been recommended to be awarded subsidy from resources allocated in mentioned programme.
Some believe the section between Szklarska Poręba Górna and Harachov would be an ideal location for a steam locomotive scenic railway.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
town Jelenia Góra
Jelenia Góra
----Jelenia Góra is a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. The name of the city means "deer mountain" in Polish, Czech and German. It is close to the Krkonoše mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba can be found...
(Hirschberg) with Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poreba
Szklarska Poręba is a town in Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. The town has a population of around 7,000...
(Schreiberhau). It is a part of former Prussian Zackenbahn, that used to connect Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
with the Austro-Hungarian Empire via the New World Pass. The line is currently operated by PKP
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe
is the dominant railway operator in Poland.The company was founded when the former state-owned operator was divided into several units based on the requirements laid down by the European Union...
.
History
The first section at the foothills of the Giant Mountains (Riesengebirge/Karkonosze/Krkonoše) was completed in 1891. The mountain section took several more years to finish. The railway station Jakobsthal (Jakuszyce) close to the New World Pass became the highest railway station in Prussia. The terminal station was Polaun/Grünthal (KořenovKorenov
Kořenov is a mountain village in Jablonec nad Nisou District, Liberec Region in the Czech Republic. Kořenov is situated in the Jizera Mountains near the well-known winter sports centre Harrachov. Part of the village is situated in protected landscape area....
). The complete track was opened in 1902, together with the Cog railway Tannwald-Grünthal. The line was electrified in 1923.
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. After the war, the electric equipment was dismounted and together with the remaining locomotives transported to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
as reparation.
Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
was transferred to Poland, and cross-border traffic was abolished. Following an exchange of border territories between Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Poland, the Bohemian part was extended to Harrachov, that became a new terminal station.
Polish State Railways (PKP) operated passenger trains as far as Szklarska Poręba Huta (Josephinenhütte) and freight trains as far as Jakuszyce. The track as far as Szklarska Poręba Górna was electrified again in 1987. Except for a one-day celebration on the 100th anniversary in 2002, cross border traffic was never restored. Due to decision of Common Monitoring Committee of Operational Programme of European Transborder Cooperation Czech Republic - Poland 2007-2013 the execution of the project "Revitalization of the railway line Szklarska Poreba - Harrachov" will be provided. Project in question has been recommended to be awarded subsidy from resources allocated in mentioned programme.
Some believe the section between Szklarska Poręba Górna and Harachov would be an ideal location for a steam locomotive scenic railway.