Nature (T)Railway in Hungary

On 28th of April, we went to Felsötarkany next to Eger to try the small train. Unfortunately it was running only from May to October on week-ends.

We went also to Nagybörzsöny. This is a very nice area in the national park of Duna-Ipoly close to the Slovakian border. The train is working from April to November on days off.  It will bring you in the  hills of the Börzsöny massif.

Sunday, 27^th of April. In the western part of the Bükk hills in the north of Eger, is an idyllic little train. The destination is a meadow of the Szalajka völgy, in the basement of the Bükk massif, 5 km away from Szilvasvarad. It is a ritual to take the train to go up to the meadow and go back down to Szilvasvarad by foot. The train works from April to October using open carriages.

Friday, 25^th of April. The Miskolc station is situated close to the nice and famous castle of Miskolc along the tramway 1. This touristic train goes to Garadna and stops at Lilafüred (Lila baths). It works all year round. Garadna is a departure for hikes in the Bükk hills whereas Lilafüred is a thermal resort with a hotel-castle and a nice environment. You will find there the lovely village of Lilafüred, a water fall and the 2 small caves: Anna and Istvan.

Wednesday, 23^rd of April. In the early morning we succeed to arrive to Palhaza by hitch-hiking on time to catch the small train. It was a cold morning of April so in the only carriage is working the stove. It smells nice of burned wood. We are the only passengers.

This small forest line is the oldest in Hungary. It has been built in 1888. Nowadays it is held by the National Forest Office. It was built to connect Palhaza and Kökapu. The track slopes from Kökapu so at the beginning the empty carriages were pulled up by horses. Downwards the main power was gravitation. The first steam engine began to work in 1902. The tunnel which is under Kökapu castle was built in 1903. The line created a direct connection to the narrow-gauge economic railway from Sarospatak to Satorljaujhely. The small train has been carrying passengers since 1958.

In 1990 the line was expended 1.3 km to Rostello. Nowadays, the train is merely a touristic attraction. It passes through the valley of Kaunce stream along the lake Kökapu and the hunting castle. It runs from mid April to end of October.

Thursday, 20^th of April. Departure from the Nyiregyhaza train station. The weather alternates from sun to rain. Here is not only a touristical train. Locals get on the kisvasut to reach small passed villages. The line is more than 100 years old. It was built in 1906. Next to the station of Dombrad you will find a small museum and an exhibition of railway machines and old carriages. It is not the fastest way of transportation but probably the nicest. If you are lucky you could see roe-deers or pheasants and other animals.

If you go to Dombrad, a short walk will lead you to the Tisza banks. At Balasa you are about 12 km from the famous town of Tokaj.

Saturday, 19^th of April. The small train (Zsuzsivasut) left the small station of Debrecen in a small rain at 8h30. One hour later, we arrived at the last stop: Harmashegy. The place is very peaceful and situated in the forest. From there starts several hiking trails. You will also find a horse farm and a lake.

The train is touristical and works only on week-ends and free days (3 times a days and 4 in summer). The station is in the outskirt of Debrecen and the ticket is 800 HUF.