The Carpathian Tram. The Best Tourist Attraction of Prykarpattia

In Ukraine several narrow-gauge railways have survived — the Borzhava one in Zakarpattia, one in Antonivka in the Rivne region, one in Holovanivsk in the Kirovohrad region, and one in the settlement of Vyhoda in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Vyhoda, Dolyna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region. A tour along the narrow-gauge railway by Carpathian tram

The Vyhoda single-track railway offers a fascinating ride on the so-called Carpathian tram into the very heart of the Carpathian mountains.

The route runs through an ecologically clean area, amid fairy-tale mountain landscapes, and will be of interest for an independent excursion, family journeys, group hikes and romantic outings.

The trip is very spectacular and informative, filled with national colour, and for its uniqueness it can be called one of the best tourist attractions in Western Ukraine.

The gathering of those wishing to enjoy the beauty of the Carpathian scenery, breathe the healing mountain air, drink healing water and more takes place by the Pt4 steam locomotive. This veteran of the logging industry was made in Finland in 1948 and, after its service ended, was mounted on a pedestal in memory of its valiant labour hauling timber. By the monument to the hard-working steam engine, local musicians greet the guests with merry tunes and a little dance.

National tunes and well-known hits accompany the travellers throughout the whole tour, creating a friendly atmosphere and a wonderful mood.

The excursion lasts 4 hours, the length of the route is about 12 kilometres, and the maximum speed of the mini-train — 10 kilometres per hour.

You feel the extreme thrills and delight literally from the first minutes, as you cross the mountain river Svicha over the narrow-gauge bridge.

Further on, the way runs along the turbulent Mizunka River, which flows into the Svicha, and past the household plots of the ancient Boiko village of Staryi Mizun.

Only from the little window of the tram can you see the hydrological natural monument, the hanging bog Shyrkovets, with its dwarf birches and other rare plants. The luckiest may catch sight of the black stork, which is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Timber was once floated down the swift water flow until, at the end of the 19th century, Baron Popper built a railway 770 millimetres wide.

During the period of restoring the national economy after the Second World War, Carpathian timber was transported to revive the mines of Donbas. Floods and the use of road transport undermined the profitability of the narrow-gauge line. In the 2000s, much of the Austrian rail was dismantled due to wear and mismanagement. Fortunately, part of this rare railway survived, and since 2004 it has carried Ukrainian tourists and foreign guests.

The train includes the passenger railcar TU6P-0037 and, depending on the season and the tickets sold — from two to five passenger carriages.

During three stops the travellers admire waterfalls, visit an abandoned sanatorium for the rehabilitation of cosmonauts, stroll across bridges over the winding Mizunka, and take photographs against the backdrop of forest massifs and mountain peaks.

Especially striking photographs come out on the rapids of the turbulent river with its stony bed.

Tourists gladly taste and buy the local moonshine infused with Carpathian herbs, sheep's bryndza, honey, fragrant tea and dishes of the field kitchen.

The visitors quench their thirst and take healing water with them from the "Horianka" and "Dziurkach" springs.

As a keepsake of their stay in the beautiful places of the land of molfars, local craftsmen offer distinctive souvenirs.

Those who love horseback riding can take up the opportunity offered during the stop.

On the way back, the whole large group of visitors turns into a choir, performing, accompanied by folk musicians, our wonderful Ukrainian songs about spruces, the waterfall, red rue, eyes, the nightingale and so on.

The captivating excursion comes to an end, and, as always, no one wants to part.

Those wishing to continue their cultural recreation and get to know the history of the narrow-gauge railway a little better can visit the interactive museum "Centre of the Vyhoda Narrow-Gauge Railway", housed in the former residence of the sawmill king Baron Popper, built in 1855. The exhibitions are devoted to the nature of the Carpathians, the local ecosystem, the theme of woodworking, and the Vyhoda steam locomotive. This unique museum is located 400 metres from the boarding point for the Carpathian tram.

Coordinates of the boarding point: 48°56’3"N 23°54’37"E