ČD Muzeum Lužná u Rakovníka

I arrived at Praha Masarykovo nádraží as the sun rose and with an unmistakeable column of smoke rising in the distance. It wasn’t too long before the Czech railway museum’s 477.043 arrived, followed shortly afterwards by the museum’s diesel locomotive T478.3101.

The appearance of both locomotives was distinctive – the steam locomotive 477.043 is known as Papoušek (Parrot in english) on account of its vibrant colour and appearance whilst the class of diesel locomotives that T478.3101 belongs to are widely known as ‘Goggles’ for reasons that are quite apparent on even a cursory glance! I was delighted to see both for the first time…

I opted to take the service train from Praha Masarykovo to Lužná u Rakovníka which gave me ample time to explore the museum in relative quiet during the half hour before the steam special arrived. The turntable boards were still frosted over at this time but the warming rays of the sun soon disposed of that.

The Czech railway museum at Lužná u Rakovníka is a delight with a selection of diesel and steam locomotives on display in the open (both standard and narrow guage) against the backdrop of the extensive neighbouring forest. On the day I visited (during the last weekend the museum would be open in 2010) five steam locomotives and two diesels were in operation:

• Diesel locomotive T478.3101
• Diesel locomotive T458.1190
• Steam carriage M124.001
• Steam locomotive 555.0301
• Steam locomotive 387.043 (Mikádo)
• Tender steam locomotive 477.043 (Papoušek)
• Tender steam locomotive 354.195

I spent the day wandering around, taking photographs and enjoying the spectacle. It wasn’t the most adventurous day of photography that I’ve ever planned but it was a pleasant way to round off the season.

At the end of the day I climbed on board a red/cream liveried class 854 dmu and settled down for a smooth ride back into town – with the added pleasure of seeing two all-blue CD Freight liveried goggles with high-sided hopper wagons at Kladno (though sadly, no opportunity to grab a photo).

On arrival back at Praha Masarykovo nádraží I found 477.043 and T478.3101 shunting the stock from the day’s tour giving me a final opportunity to wallow in a few further moments of smoke and diesel fumes!

A DMU departs from Lužná u Rakovníka

Mikádo 387.043 on the turntable

Kriegslok 555.0301 in steam at Lužná u Rakovníka

T478.3101 on a frosty morning at Lužná u Rakovníka

“Papoušek” in the museum grounds

Diesel loco T458.1190 returns to the museum at Lužná u Rakovníka

More photographs can be seen at ČD Muzeum Lužná u Rakovníka – 23/24 October 2010