Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways

CFI Lonea
Petrosani

Gauge : 760mm gauge
Status : Closed (February 2023)

(click on photos to enlarge)

Lonea

Lonea was one of just a handful of narrow gauge railways still operational in Romaina. It tansported coal from a local coal washery. Sadly following an earthquake causing local subsidence of the trackbed, the restoration work was never carried out as the mine was already destined for closure by the end of 2024. In the intervening period coal was transported by lorries prior to closure.


Date: June 1998	Date: June 1998	Date: June 1998
The railway is worked by the usual Romanian L45H BoBo locos. L45H-086 is seen hauling a train of empty wagons back to Petrila shortly after leaving the terminus. Many disused collieries are passed, and at this location a further internal narrow gauge overhead electric line, of unknown gauge had recently been dismantled.	L45H-086 shunting at Petrila sidings in June 1998.	Two thirds of the way through its journey, the train passes one of the original stations. This railway started life as a forestry system, and as the timber traffic died away, the branches into the forest were removed and it took on a new lease of life as a colliery line. Rather unusually the railway is double tracked for most of its length.


Date: June 1998	Date: June 1998	Date: June 1998
At the other end of the line, the large bogie wagons are loaded from an overhead coal hopper. Until 30 years ago, this railway was worked by overhead electric locos. The overhead wire support poles can be still be seen at many locations along the line, including here at Petrila.	On each side of the track at this location there are smaller gauge colliery rail systems (probably 600mm) for the movement of tubs and other small wagons.	A view further back at the same location.


Date: June 1998	Date: June 1998
Just outside the loco sheds and workshops a forerunner to the L45H BoBo loco was dumped. This was an L35H loco. Two of these locos were seen here, but neither was in working order. Google streetmaps gives a great view of the workshops here; workshops	Another view of the station shown above.

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