Sibiu - the center of retro railway tourism

The city of Sibiu was raised on the ancient location of Cedonia and its existence is documented since 1191. It developed as a trader town but also as a cultural center. It was the capital of the county of Transilvania three times and played an important role in the history and culture of Romania. In modern times Sibiu became an important nodal point in the railway network - it has six directions: Brasov, Arad, Copsa Mica, Ramnicu Valcea, Agnita and Cisnadie. The first train ever to circumvent these grounds was at the inauguration of the cOpasa Mica - Sibiu railway. The train entered the Sibiu railway station on October 11, 1872 and linked the county to the main Transilvanian citites: Blaj, Medias, Cluj, Teius and Oradea and also to the great Western Europe capitals: Paris, Prague, Vienna, etc… The Sibiu Railway Complex is functioning today with three stations, a locomotive depot, repair shop for wagons, maintenance sections and circulation regulator for managing zonal activities. Beginning with 1991, the Brasov Railway Zonal Department saved from cassation and restored two “retro” trains that were given to railway tourism. The first was made of four normal wagons was built during 1938 - 1940 in the Arad Astra and Milan Erenesto Breda factories. The second train is composed of four passenger wagons and two freight wagons. It was built during 1950 - 1956 at the UNIO Satu Mare factory and was given to railway tourism on the Sibiu - Agnita. Between 1992 - 1998 40 to 50 “retro” trains circulated every year. They were set on the picturesque routes Sibiu - Ramnicu Valcea, Sibiu - Vintu de Jos, Sibiu - Brasov, Sibiu - Cisnadie, Sibiu - Copsa Mica, Brasov - Intorsura Buzaului and others. They brought important income to CFR. On August 28, 1994 the Steam Locomotives Museum was inaugurated. The museum belonged to the Brasov Railway Zonal Department and it is functioning in the courtyard of the Sibiu Depot. It is opened every day between 8- 16. Today, the collection includes over 40 steam locomotives, snowploughs and steam cranes. Among these locomotives, seven were actually active and towed “retro” trains:
764.205, 140.117, 231.065, 50.451, 50.497, 230.224, 150.1105 and 764.205. Today only two of them are still active: 140.117 and 230.224. The other locomotives’ steam tanks use expired and they became museum items.
In recognition of the value of the items in this museum, by GO no 2686/2000 issued on December 31 by the Minister of Culture, all steam locomotive here were declared national cultural patrimony, thus protected by the state law. Sibiu can be considered the city of museums. We have here the Brukenthal Museum that was founded in 1817, the first Romanian museum ever; the Dumbrava Sibiului Popular Technical Museum founded in 1967, the most important such institution in the country; the Weapons and Trophies Museum, the Tram Museum and the Steam Locomotive Museum of the Brasov Railway Zonal Department.
Another hotspot for railway tourism is the picturesque tramline linking Sibiu to Rasinari - a shepherd’s settlement in the Marginimea Sibiului - an ethnographical centre that reminds us of Octavian Goga and of the Mythropolite Andrei Saguna. Inaugurated on March 14, 1948 the tiny line (only 9-km long) offers a wonderful voyage towards the foot of the Cibin Mountains.
It would be a mistake to believe that the railway tourist arrived in Sibiu can only visit the places we described here on such few words - look in the guides and you will get many pleasant surprises…

Radu Bellu reporting