Top narrow-gauge railways in Ukraine worth exploring

The weekend is here and you're puzzling over how to spend it interestingly and with benefit? Are you tired of staying at home or wandering the familiar streets of the city? How about locations that immerse you in a real journey through time and space? Today we are talking about unique railroads that have preserved the spirit of the past. Read below to find out where to start your journey.

Carpathian Tram

It is located near Vyhoda in the Dolyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The narrow-gauge railway was built in the 1860s. It connected the Boikivshchyna region with the centers of the forest industry of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The network was considered critical for logging, processing, and transportation of wood.

The attraction reached its greatest development under Soviet rule, but later began to decline due to natural and anthropogenic factors. Today, the former industrial railroad is a popular tourist attraction.

The train runs along the Mizunka River in the Carpathian foothills. The transport consists of a locomotive (12 seats for passengers) and two cars: a closed car with comfortable seats and an open car (convertible and platform).

During the trip, travelers will learn about the history of the location, how the rail line was reconstructed, see the Horianka mineral water spring, the Shyrkovets marsh, Mizunski waterfalls, and more.

The tram starts from the village station and goes to Senechiv.

Kolochava

It is located in Kolochava in Mizhhiria district of Zakarpattia region on the territory of the Old Village skansen.

The railroad was laid at the end of the XIX century. It was created to transport timber from the region. The rolling stock consisted of a steam locomotive and several cars: one brown, Soviet-made, and most green, Hungarian.

Here you can see the cars used to transport loggers, cattle, timber, and various tools of the railroad workers.

Today, the Kolochava Narrow-Gauge Railroad has become the only museum that preserves the history of the railroads of the Borzhava, Teresvianka, and Tereblia valleys, the upper Tisza, and the Latorytsia and Rika rivers.

Antonivka-Zarichne

Located in the Rivne region. The railroad stretches for 106 kilometers. It is said to be founded around 1895.

At first, it was built to transport wood. However, during the First World War, another branch was opened, the Khynochy-Dubrovytsia-Vysotsk line, which was used to transport peat.

From 1919 to 1939, the Polish authorities used the "Polissia Tram" to transport timber, tar, resin, and potato alcohol.

The economic difficulties of the 1990s led to a halt in freight transportation. Most of the diesel locomotives were scrapped, and the narrow-gauge was under real threat of closure. However, for many local residents, it remained almost the only way to get to other settlements.

It does not function today.

Borzhava

It is located within the Vynohradiv, Berehove and Irshava districts of Zakarpattia region. The railroad stretches for more than 123 kilometers.

"Antsya Kushnytska", as the locals called it, started operating in 1908. It was used primarily to transport timber from the Borzhava and Velykyi Dil to the Zakarpattia lowlands for further processing and transportation.

Passenger trains usually consisted of a locomotive and a small number of cars (from one to four). Small stations were set up in each settlement along the route. As of October 2022, regular transportation was discontinued.

Haivoron

It is located within Vinnytsia and Kropyvnytskyi regions, and was built by the owners of sugar factories at the end of the XIX century to transport workers and goods.

The railroad line stretches for more than 130 kilometers: it starts in the village of Rudnytsia, runs through Bershad and Haivoron, and ends in Holovanivsk. It is considered the longest in Europe.

Here you can see Soviet Tu-2 locomotives, a Belgian MT-202 steam locomotive, snowplows, locomotives, and other equipment. You can also go on a trip to the Podillia centers.

Are you ready to make your weekend more interesting? Choose a route, pack your backpack and go explore the narrow-gauge railways of Ukraine!

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