We invite you to read the report from a unique event for railway and photography enthusiasts, during which, thanks to the joint efforts of PAK KWB Konin, PAK Górnictwo, and Zrobotyzowani, two special coal trains were launched!
On Saturday, May 25, the long-awaited event for railway and photography enthusiasts – Krokodyle Golden Hour – took place. The event began at the PKP Konin station, from where two buses took us to Kazimierz Biskupi – the location of the Mining Railway workshops. Already on the buses, participants were introduced to the event rules and, more importantly, the plan for the photography part. Special brochures provided information about the photography stops (access routes, sample frames) as well as details about the event hosts – PAK KWB Konin and PAK Górnictwo, and their history. As you may know, PAK Kopalnia Węgla Brunatnego Konin S.A. owns the railway rolling stock and infrastructure on which the special trains operated, while PAK Górnictwo Sp. z o.o. handles railway transport for PAK Kopalnia Węgla Brunatnego Konin S.A. and for the “Krokodyle Golden Hour” event. The company is also the host of the railway workshops we visited during the event.
The event was supported by a seven-person Zrobotyzowani team – from guiding the buses between the tour stops, to assisting on the buses and during the photography stops, to managing traffic. Throughout the trip, we were accompanied by representatives of PAK Górnictwo, whose support ensured the smooth execution of the event – Mr. Andrzej Rudziński, Mirosław Krzymiński, and Marek Pilarczyk.
The tour began with a visit to the Mining Railway workshops. If you didn’t know or weren’t with us on the day of the event, here’s an important message: PAK Górnictwo Sp. z o.o. provides various services in the railway industry, including managing railway sidings and workshop-mechanical services for the railway sector. That’s why we started our event at the Mining Railway workshops – what would they be without such efficiently operating workshops? See for yourself: http://www.pakgornictwo.com.pl/index.html
In a sizable group of 70 participants, we had the opportunity to visit two halls – the wagon repair hall and the locomotive repair hall. In the first, we could look under one of the wagons lifted on “Kutruff” jacks. Outside the hall, participants could ask questions about unique Polish-made 410V wagons – about heating systems or monitoring used for train operations. As usual, the “crocodiles” stole the show! The locomotive repair hall, which we explored inside, was a major attraction. As participants said, we had a unique opportunity to visit the last Polish bastion of crocodiles, of which this hall is an integral part. We didn’t want to leave!
Some participants also managed to delve into the secrets of the Mining Railway’s rolling stock park outside the hall, including photographing a network train or other equipment available at the workshops.
Although the representatives of PAK Górnictwo hosted us wonderfully at this location, we had to move on – time was running out, and the special trains were already waiting for us on the route! Just a quick headcount, a refill of water supplies, one last look at the map, a gathering, and off we went.
Thanks to the efficient cooperation of participants and the creation of a time buffer, we managed to take even more than the two planned shots at the third photography stop – on the beach in Wygoda. There were many possibilities – from a frame with a windmill and bridge from a distance, a similar frame captured from the pier at the actual beach, to a frame with a railway crossing or a frame with a signal box! It only got better from there – the photography stop in Lubstówek, from the so-called hill, was met with great appreciation from the participants, which makes us very happy. Special thanks go to councilor Dominik Borowski, thanks to whom we were able to park the buses on the grounds of OSP Stefanowo.
Next, we stopped only for long-lens shots at a roadside cross in Rysiny (where some uninvited guests tried to ruin the perspective). However, the highlight of the special train led by the TEM2-271 locomotive was the Drzewce station with partially dismantled infrastructure. It was undoubtedly a unique moment – soon, this station will cease to exist, and the tracks will be repurposed for other Mining Railway lines. Although it wasn’t planned, a frame with the transfer tower at Drzewce station was also prepared for us. Could we miss the opportunity to take our first group photo?
Thanks to the smooth cooperation with participants and the time buffer we created, we managed to capture even more than the two planned shots at the third photography stop – on the beach in Wygoda. There were many possibilities: a frame with a windmill and bridge from a distance, a similar frame taken from the pier at the actual beach, a frame with a railway crossing, or a frame with the signal box! It only got better from there – the photography stop in Lubstówek, from the so-called hill, was met with great appreciation from the participants, which makes us very happy. Special thanks go to councilor Dominik Borowski, thanks to whom we were able to park the buses on the grounds of OSP Stefanowo.
Next, we stopped only for long-lens shots at a roadside cross in Rysiny (where some uninvited guests tried to ruin the perspective). However, the highlight of the special train led by the TEM2-271 locomotive was the Drzewce station with partially dismantled infrastructure. It was undoubtedly a unique moment – soon, this station will cease to exist, and the tracks will be repurposed for other Mining Railway lines. Although it wasn’t planned, a frame with the transfer tower at Drzewce station was also prepared for us. Could we miss the opportunity to take our first group photo?
With each subsequent photo stop, the appetite for more grew, while the time left for the event was running out. We squeezed the last few frames like a lemon – the railway crossing in Bernardynka was photographed from both the northern and southern sides, and we even managed to capture a group photo with the crocodile’s driver. At the final stop on Odkrywkowa Street in Konin, we let our imagination run wild, and the crocodile posed for photos as requested by participants – solo and paired with another crocodile standing near the signal box. We hope everyone managed to take their last desired photo!
Although this report already contains many thanks, we, the organizers, are at a loss for words to express our gratitude and appreciation to PAK KWB Konin S.A., the employees of PAK Górnictwo Sp. z o.o., without whose support the Krokodyle Golden Hour event would not have taken place.
We are also pleasantly surprised by the kindness of all the people we encountered – during the planning of the event, finalizing the details, and its execution. The help of the drivers – Mr. Zbigniew and Mr. Stefan from EUROBUS Kleczew – also proved invaluable, as they ensured smooth transportation between photography stops and performed impressive maneuvers.
Thanks are also due to you, dear participants, for your extraordinary discipline during the event, which allowed us to reach our destination safely and on time, with full satisfaction.
Event preparation and execution: Maciej Kacprzak
Report: Paulina Kozłowska, Andrzej Kwiatkowski under the supervision of the indispensable Mr. Andrzej Rudziński
Photos: Maciej Kacprzak, Paulina Kozłowska, Adrian Kulik, Karol Lubaczewski, Krzysztof Nożyński, Jerzy Pakuła, Michał Turkiewicz, Piotr Wojciechowski
