Zespół lokomotywowni w Skierniewicach

Steam Locomotive Depot in Skierniewice dates back to the 19th century. It was built when a steam locomotive service for Warsaw - Vienna railway was created. The main element of the object is a semi-circular holding station.

Description

The object consists of numerous elements:

> roundhouse,

> pumping station,

> water station,

> workshops,

> office and amenity building,

> storage and office building,

> maintenance building,

> coal bunkers with Teudtloff mechanical lifts,

> checkpoint,

> lubricants warehouse,

> sand drying oven.

Date or time of building

1845 r. (XIX w.)

History

The oldest part of the depot was built in 1845. First modernisation was carried out already in 1858. It was then that a forge was converted into a lodging house and apartments for traction and train crews.

A new water tower with pumping station was also built at that time. A depot for locomotives and wagons, coal yard and a turntable already existed at the time.

In 1861 a 12m diameter turntable was installed and a year later a roundhouse with 8 work posts.The old depot was adapted into apartments and offices. Reconstruction lasted until 1879 when the workplace capacity was extended into 24 work posts.Inspection pits, water pipes, coal lifts and other machinery. In 1870's the water tower was expanded - two additional containers and a steam engine were added.By the river Łupia a pumping plant was built.

In 1914the German army blew up all the buildings and depot machinery.Whereas the Russian army carried away rolling stock, machinery and documentation before their evacuation.

Shortly after the war the Skierniewice line was rebuilt and used as a transit and arterial line.

In the 1930's there were 35 steam locomotives in Skierniewice.Just before the World War II the depot decreased its locomotives number and it became an auxiliary depot.

During the World War II the depot regained its significance.After the renovation the number increased to 50 locomotives.In the 1950's another renovation took place. As a result, a 250t turntable with 23 work posts was built.

In the 1970's most trains became electric powered. As a result, only lighter machines were left in the depot. The object underwent more renovations and modernisations in the later years as well.

Due to declining traffic and competition from nearby towns the depot closed on 31st October, 1991.

In 1994 it was entered into the Register of Historic Monuments. On 8th November, 2002 Polskie Stowarzyszenie Miłośników Kolei (Polish Association of Railway Enthusiasts) became its owner.PSMK seeks to preserve the steam locomotive depot as a place to commemorate the history of the Polish Railway and to create a rolling stock and railway technology exhibition.

Type of collection

Steam locomotives, wagons and other rolling stock equipment.

Accessibility

The steam locomotive depot can be visited every first Saturday of the month from May to October.