Description
The Zulawska narrow-gauge railway (Żuławska Kolej Dojazdowa) is a seasonal tourist narrow-gauge railway providing a unique journey through Poland's Żuławy (Marshland) scenery.
The history of narrow-gauge railways in the Low Lands dates back to the end of the 19th century, when the first line from Nowy Staw to Koscieleczki was built. The route was only 5 km long and wagons loaded with sugar beet were pulled by horse to the sugar factory, the line expanded over the next ten years to reach a total length of 55 km. Initially the line was used to transport goods until the beginning of the 20th century when passengers were carried during the summer months in specially adapted open waggons.
The devastating effects of World War II on the Low Lands partly destroyed the depots and left the tracks in poor condition. After the war most of the railway system was repaired with services resuming until the beginning of the 1950s when roads began taking traffic away from the railway resulting in parts of the network closing.
In the mid-seventies an attempt was made to revive the fortunes of the railway with the introduction of a tourist train marketed as “Jantar Express”, sadly the service was not profitable and ceased to operate. The rolling stock was sold and the tracks were systematically stolen and sold for scrap. In 1999, the narrow-gauge railway was officially liquidated.
The 1999 liquidation was not the end of the story with the formation in 2003 of the Pomeranian Society of Iron Railway Enthusiasts, which was to lead to the resumption of services on the Low Lands narrow-gauge railway. In 2006, the Low Lands Commuter Railway Association was established.
During the summer operating season, passengers can travel the route from Nowy Dwor Gdanski through Stegna to Sztutowo or Mikoszewo in restored carriages pulled by historic diesel locomotives, railcars and on special event days a steam locomotive. With rising passenger numbers, a dedicated band of enthusiasts and support from the local community the railway now faces a much brighter future.
The highlight of this visit was to see the world's only surviving narrow gauge railway swing bridge operate to allow our train to pass over it.
00:23 - Nowy Dwór Gdański
00:29 - Map - Google Earth
00:37 - Map - https://www.openrailwaymap.org/
00:55 - To cover the entire network our train rerverses towards the true end of the line at Nowy Dwór Gdański Cmentarz
03:31 - Abandoned standard gauge Stogi Malborskie to Nowy Dwór Gdański railway line
05:02 - Nowy Dwór Gdański Cmentarz
05:10 - The end of the line
12:45 - Nowy Dwór Gdański
16:05 - Nowy Dwór Gdański Żeromskiego
18:42 - Nowy Dwór Gdański Żelichowo
19:11 - Tuja (river)
23:51 - Cyganka
30:28 - Cyganek
42:37 - Tujsk
46:02 - Linawa (river)
50:01 - Szkarpawa (river)
52:03 - Szkarpawa (river)
56:26 - Rybina
01:02:13 - Popowo
01:09:20 - Stegna Gdańska
To learn more, please click on any of these links -
https://www.rabbittranspoland.com/post/zulawy-narrow-gauge-railway-get-to-know-its-history
https://pomorskie.travel/en/articles/kolej-waskotorowa/
https://visiton.pl/en/miejsca-atrakcje-zabytki/inne/ad/6221-zulawska-kolej-dojazdowa.html
https://kolejzulawska.pl/
Track gauge – 750mm
Date of this visit - 7th May 2025
Tour - arranged by “The Railway Touring Company”. To find out more or to book your own adventure, please click on this link - https://www.railwaytouring.net/europe