The Chosen Realm

Day 5 : 24th September 2004

Train Reporting Codes:
22202 : Budapest-Keleti pu to Kismaros mh
(2247 : Szob to Budapest-Nyugati)
charter 405 : Kismaros to Kiralyret to Kismaros
22207 : Kismaros to Vac
22207-2 : Vac to Balassagyarmat
32624 (K) : Balassagyarmat to Ipolytarnoc to Balassagyarmat
33503 : Balassagyarmat to Budapest-Keleti pu

(1) Train failed to stop!
(2) Service train 2247, 08.50 Szob to Budapest Nyugati.
(3) Combined with service train 31012, Mk48 2031 on rear.
(4) M43 1081 on rear.
(5) plus Bzmot 333 on rear (forming service train 32624).
(6) plus Bzmot 333 on rear (forming service train ?????).

Tour Review
(by Trevor Cockram)

Day 5 and now the longest duration Mercia charter in its history. All arrived back in the bay platform at Kelti, there was freshly cleaned stock and no trace of the bauxite mud from yesterday. The only problem was the lack of a class M44 locomotive. A message was received that the loco had failed and was then repaired and was on its way. This Budapest with an M44 so it must be a railtour loco? M44 158 was one of the loco's on the inaugural Mercia tour in Hungary "The Way of the Warrior" and it was on our tour today.

We left 15 minutes late from Kelti, and had a good run round onto the main line from Nyugati station to Szob at Rendezöl elágazás where we stop briefly to allow a stopping service train to go ahead. Following the EMU service passing through God and Vac (no class 50 jokes please!) we ran straight through our booked stop at Kismarso mh and terminated at Nagymaros. The driver had failed to notice the booked stop in the special train instruction. Luckily there was a service train due in a few minutes that could take us back to Kismarso, so an unscheduled use of train 2247 the 0850 Szob-Budapest Nyugati was made. The train was modern push-pull stock, pushed by V43 2377. As a consequence we arrived almost an hour late at Kismarso mh station and took the steep steps down to the road. The disused harbour branch of the narrow gauge line towards Veróce could been seen as we passed under the main line bridge and arrived at the narrow gauge station.

A service train was due out of the narrow gauge at 0938 so it was decided to operate both the service train and the charter together, Mk48 2017 and two coaches on the service train, coupled to our coach and Mk48 2031 bringing up the rear. Most of the power was provided by the leading loco with the trailing loco providing assistance pulling away from stations. There was no time at the top of the branch at Kiralyret to explore the shed. The charter was un-coupled from the service and we headed back down the branch hauled by Mk48 2031. A fast non-stop run was made back down the branch. Back the main line station, M44 158 returned with the main line train with M43 1081 on the rear for the run back to Vac.

In the sidings was the preserved ARPAD railcar and Slovakian gorilla 350 001-4 roared past on the international train. There was some time for photographs whilst we waited for a path down the branchline, with a number of people wanting their photo under the Vac station sign (sad!). The branch run parallel almost all the way back to Veróce before heading north. We stop briefly at Diósjenõ where the branch goes off to Romhány, which is in need of a loco hauled tour at some stage!

We reversed at Drégelypalánk, the line now terminates, but in the past looks as though it continued into Šahy in Slovakia, but all that was in the station was a maintenance trolley.

Arrival at Balassagyarmat was now about 40 minutes late. The service train we were due to couple with was due out in about 10 minutes, but as this had a long station stopover at Szeécsény, it was agreed to send this out at booked time and to the charter to catch it up. As a result we had enough time to visit the small shed, photograph the plinth steam engine, and buy beer from the local shop (as the bar had sold-out) and food from the bakers on the platform. During the break our loco was changed to M32 2040 (ex M32 2025)  which recently been re-painted in original two tone green, with a grey cab. I understand that this loco is part of the museum fleet. We caught up with Bzmot 333 at Szeécsény where it shunted onto the back of the charter. The combined train was held just before Nógrádszakál to allow a top and tail Grumpy (ZSR class 751) powered freight train to head up the ZSR freight branch to Veĺký Krtiš. Unfortunately I don't have the numbers as someone got in the way again! The end of the branch so far as Hungary is concerned is Ipolytarnóc, but the line continues into Slovakia and on to the main line at Lučenec. Both the M32 and the Bzmot ran round so that the Bzmot remained coupled at the rear of the charter. Returning as the 15:10 service train number 33613 we stopped at all shacks back to Balassagyarmat.

The penultimate loco change was to M44 509 which are similar to the main batch of M44 but are fitted with two compressors. As this loco is allocated to Balassagyarmat it was a winner for almost everyone. A stop was necessary at Magyámandor where we crossed a five car Bzmot unit (this should be loco hauled!), and a final photostop whilst there was still some light before Nógrádkövesd. We crossed another Bzmot rake at Acsa-Erdökürt, before arriving at Azód where the final loco change took place. M62 228 was waiting to couple on and at booked time we made good time on the final run back to Budapest Keleti. (This was not the original plan which was to run into Nyugati, but the restaurant we were due to visit had lost our booking so after saying our farewells to the MAV Nosztalgia crew we met in the Keleti station restaurant for a final meal as speeches.

In summary excellent trip even with a few rough edges.

Thanks to the hard work put in by the Mercia Stewards, Ferenc Joó,  Ákos Grátzer and the rest of the team at MÁV Nosztalgia.

Next year there is talk of the Ukraine for the main tour and a shorter Hungary tour, I for one am looking forward for the next trip.

Trevor Cockram
www.branchlines.org.uk

Route, Distances and Timing's (Booked & Actual)
(by Andy Powis/Trevor Cockram)

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