Wednesday, 2 November 2022

Lviv. The Children's Railway Through Stryiskyi Park

For Railwayman's Day
and the anniversary of the opening of the Lviv Children's Railway

One of the most beloved recreation spots in Lviv, and a true fairy tale, is the children's railway in Stryiskyi Park.

Lviv. The children's railway in Stryiskyi Park

The children's division of the Lviv Railway opened on 8 November 1951, when a narrow-gauge line was laid along the embankment of the broad-gauge approach track of Persenivka station.

Lviv. Stryiskyi Park. The narrow-gauge children's railway

The steel branch was built from materials of the former Austro-Hungarian estates. The line's history began in 1922, when the track connected the Skhidni Torhy (Eastern Fair) station with Persenivka and was used to deliver goods for the Eastern Fair. In the post-war period it served a military unit stationed in the park. In the early 1960s a depot was built and the rolling stock was renewed.

Lviv. Stryiskyi Park. The children's railway

The route runs along the eastern and southern sides of the green massif and is 1,200 metres long. Until 1976 the track length was 1,850 metres, and the railway had three stations, two steam locomotives and four wooden carriages.

Lviv. The children's railway route through Stryiskyi Park

During the reconstruction of Stryiska Street the Dytiache Mistechko (Children's Town) station was removed. The route now runs along the eastern and southern sides of the green massif and is 1,200 metres long.

The journey from Soniachna station to Parkova station takes five minutes.

Lviv. The children's railway between Soniachna and Parkova stations

Two diesel locomotives work on the railway - TU2-087 and TU3-039 - along with four all-metal carriages of Polish manufacture, Pafawag. There are 38 seats in a carriage. The veteran TU3-039 is a rarity of railway equipment and the only one still in service across the territory of the former Soviet steel network.

Lviv. The children's railway. A diesel locomotive and carriages

The track gauge is 750 mm. In 2022 the tracks were repaired, the carriages repainted, and more than 200 new sleepers laid. The children's service ran from the beginning of May to the end of September.

Lviv. The children's railway. The 750 mm track

The team of young workers of the "little railway", some 700 children, carried around 300,000 passengers over a season. Pupils in grades 5 to 9 can take part in the railway work.