Brzezinka Sredzka

Brzezinka Sredzka main Station Building incorporating the control center for this section of track

The above building is a small part of the main Station of Brzezinka Sredzka which is more than a 100 years old and of German construction.  It also houses a small but important signal and track control center.  The Gentleman in charge today was Maciek and he and I spoke a little about the station and platform operation.

Although not permitted within the control room it self, through the window I was invited to take this picture.  This is a current control frame controlling signals and points all via electric operation rather than cable or rod links.  This amazing piece of equipment also dates back more than 100 years (although I must presume has been updated on occasions throughout that time)

Parked up is this lovely vehicle which if you look closely you can see is fitted out with rail wheels enabling it to travel on the railway line.  (if you note in some previous recent blogs up by the bridge which is about 3 km away they have been working on the track - perhaps this machine was part of the work gang.)

Speeding through the station is this intercity rake headed by an EP07 Electric locomotive of the Poland PKP Railway.

Far away awaiting signal is a ET42 double locomotive.  The two Railway Engineers have been busy checking the track and pointwork and also await the train to pass before continuing the inspection duties.  (we shall see more of these two going about the work)

Passing over the pointwork and onto the Main Line heading to Wroclaw.

And onward she goes with her rake of wagons.

These locomotives have amazing pulling power and use two pantagraphs one on each tender to pull the power they need.

I lost count of the wagons whist walking along side the train but I think there were at least 40 of them.

Standing on platform two - well it did not look like a platform - this was one view.

And the view the other way - facing toward Wroclaw.

And indeed passenger do embark and dis-embark from this platform.  However in explanation from Maciek when a passenger train is stopped like the one as shown on our picture, trains on the other line are held so they cannot pass or if the line is busy then the approaching passenger train is held until such time the line is clear.   At no time should there ever be a train on the Wroclaw bound line when there is a passenger train in the station.   Interesting eh!

Well here are the two Engineers again.  I watched them and they really did give the points and level crossing track a good inspection.  Great to know that the track is walked to ensure good safety and not only that, that these workmen are fitted out with bright safety clothing to help protect them.  However, one piece of track on the lead into the point seems to dip down - whats your opinion we ask?

Interestingly - this station and yard area must have had great importance many years ago.  The old sidings are mainly still in place.  the main signal box in the distance can just be seen.

And looking back at the station we can see the old head shunt lines, believe it or not there is another to the left of this pile of sleepers.  So this must have been a very busy place all those years ago.

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A Sony Xperia Mobile Phone was used to shoot these images and video