Once they used to serve to transport wood from forests closer to peoples dwellings, today they transport people closer to nature - to forests. We are speaking about logging railways nowadays used by historical trains pulled by steam engines. They create the feeling of nostalgia in adults and a happy smile on childrens faces.
The Čiernohorská railway in Čierny Balog
We must point out that there are real rarities hidden among the trees of the Slovak forests. The most important of them is the narrow-gauge logging back swath railway in the museum Múzeum kysuckej dediny in Vychylovka. It is the only working historical narrow-gauge logging back swath railway in Europe. There are only two other railways of this type in the world - in South America and India.
Another tempting way of getting to know a part of the region of Horehronie is taking a historical ride down the valley of the river Hron by Čiernohronská lesná železnica (logging railway of Čierny Hron). To make the ride even more interesting, one can order an organised event beforehand, as for example panning for gold, highwayman school, a hold-up of the train by highwaymen, visiting a family farm including horse riding or tasting of cheeses, visiting the virgin forest Dobročský prales or the open-air museum of forestry Lesnícky skanzen in Vydovská dolina.
A real gape seed for all lovers of historical trains is no doubt Celoslovenský zraz historických železničných vozidiel (All Slovakia Meeting of Historical Trains) in Bratislava that has been held regularly for several years in the engine depot Bratislava - East. Neighbours from the Czech Republic and Hungary also like to participate and arrive in Bratislava on unusual trains, of course.