Kyustendil to Gyueshevo

The last day of the photo charter took us from Kyustendil to Gyueshevo. It’s quite a contrast to the busy stretch of line we were using yesterday and sees only three trains a week. That is not exactly surprising when you consider that the terminus currently serves a village with a population of just 275. That will all change if the missing link to Skopje, the North Macedonian capital, is finally built.

In October 2021 an agreement was signed between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Under the terms of the agreement, Bulgaria will complete the construction of the 2.5km line from Gyueshevo to the North Macedonian border, as well as modernising the line from Sofia. In turn, North Macedonia will construct a line from Kumanovo to the border at Deve Bair and modernise the existing line from Skopje. Funding will come from a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan and an EU grant.

A glint from the early morning sun at Kyustendil

Our day started early to ensure that we were in position at the S curves beyond Kyustendil ready for the sunrise. The local police took something of an interest, initially wanting folk to move away from the level crossing. Thankfully, our guides explained what was going on and allowed us to get our shot of 16.27 hauling her freight cars just after sunrise (08:10) followed by another from a curve through a nearby sweetcorn field (08:33). It was near perfect, though the loco didn’t have lights on as they couldn’t fix the generator. To add to that, we soon discovered that the superheater element has a crack.

We continued on our journey westwards (8:40). The photography was always going to be a challenge on this stretch of line as it is mostly overgrown, but we managed two runpasts at a tight spot near the mouth of tunnel 13 (finishing at 09:54); another runpast at another tight spot (10:40); three runpasts (11:30-12ish) near a level crossing; a shot at another crossing (12:30); two runpasts at Dolnoselo (12:45-13:00); a shot with hay bales (13:44); two runpasts from a meadow high above the curve at Prekolnitsa (14:15-14:30); a run through the station at Prekolnitsa (14:45); another hilltop view not too much further on (15:25); and a runpast at a level crossing on the outskirts of Gyueshevo (15:38).

Finally, we arrived at Gyueshevo (15:48). The day closed with false arrival and departures with cats, tempted into shot with pieces of ham. Over the years I have seen lots of attempts at shots with flocks of sheep but never cats – until now!

What an exhausting but exhilarating last day of photography. It was pretty much non-stop from start to finish today. I certainly feel that I have had a workout today, while my clothes and rucksack are now liberally coated in cement dust from the floor of our wagon! If we feel exhausted, I can only imagine how tired our crew must feel – especially as their shift started at 5am. They have done such an incredible job for us.

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