Skansen Lokomotyw i Urządzeń Technicznych w Karsznicach

About the museum

The open-air museum was established in 1993 as an in-plant history room on the grounds of the railway rolling stock works in Karsznice, an important junction on the Śląsk–Porty main line. It was opened during the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the railways in the Polish lands and the 60th anniversary of the commissioning of the local engine shed. Most of the exhibits were acquired between 1991 and 1996, and the first of them was the steam locomotive Ty23-273.

After changes in the structures of the PKP, the open-air museum was for some time looked after by the association “Semafor” (Traffic Light), but after 1999 it gradually fell into oblivion and was threatened by vandalism. From 2007 the city of Zduńska Wola, together with the Muzeum Historii Miasta, sought to take over the site, and in 2010 the museum became its official user. In 2010–2011 the city restored, among others, the steam locomotives Ty42-9, Ty43-1 and Ty45-39, and the diesel locomotives SM41, SM30 and SM03.

At the turn of February and March 2015 the City Council made the open-air museum a branch of the Muzeum Historii Miasta Zduńska Wola. The collections include steam locomotives, diesel and electric locomotives, passenger and freight wagons, a rotary snowplough, and a car of the Gubałówka funicular from 1938. The Izba Pamięci (Memory Room) shows archival materials documenting the history of the works and technical equipment, including a traction engine (lokomobila) from 1942.

Highlights

• Steam locomotive Ty246-22 “Truman” – the only surviving example in Poland
• Steam locomotives including Tr21-53, Ty42-9, Ol49-79 and Pt47-93
• Rotary snowplough from 1942
• Funicular car from the Gubałówka railway, 1938
• Memory Room with archives and technical equipment

Permanent exhibitions

• Kolekcja lokomotyw i taboru kolejowego – Open-air exhibition of steam locomotives, diesel and electric locomotives, passenger and freight wagons, and a rotary snowplough.
• Izba Pamięci – Archival materials documenting the history of the rolling stock works and technical equipment, including a traction engine from 1942 and a wheel lathe.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Muzeum Historii Miasta Zduńska Wola

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Children up to age 7 visit free of charge, and young people up to age 16 pay PLN 4.

Getting there & parking

From the stop, cross the footbridge over the tracks and turn into ul. Kolejowa towards the gate of the open-air museum. By car, take the S8 expressway, exit Zduńska Wola Wschód (Karsznice), then drive about 2.3 km towards the town and across the overpass to the gate (about 200 m).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit