Čierny Balog Forest Railway

The Čiernohronská railway was built from 1908 to bring timber out of the Horehronie valleys and once ran to over a hundred and thirty kilometres. It was closed in 1982 and would have been lifted, but enthusiasts repaired and saved it, and it has run as a heritage line since 1992, with steam and diesel trains working a section from Čierny Balog through the forest to Vydrovo, where a forestry open-air museum sits at the end of the line.

History

Planning began in 1898 and building in 1908, and regular timber traffic between Čierny Balog and Hronec began in 1909; by the mid-20th century it was the most extensive forestry railway network in Czechoslovakia. Closed in 1982, it was repaired by enthusiasts and reopened in 1992 as a heritage line now 17 km long, and it runs through the middle of the football stadium at Čierny Balog (Wikipedia, Čierny Hron Railway).

What to look for

• The steam trains - locomotives working the narrow-gauge line in season.
• The volunteer story - a railway saved from lifting by enthusiasts after its closure in 1982.
• The forest run - the line threading valleys of spruce and beech.
• The Vydrovo museum - an open-air forestry museum at the end of the line.

When to go

May to September is the main season, with steam on certain days. Timetables are limited and should be checked. Weekends and holidays are busiest.

Before you go

Trains run to a limited timetable and steam days are fewer; checking before travelling matters. The line is short compared with what it once was. Facilities at the stations are basic.

Nearby

Telgart is east, and Banska Bystrica is west.

Key facts