Margecany – Červená Skala railway line

Margecany – Červená Skala
Railway viaduct at Telgárt
Course book series (ZSSK) :	173
Route length:	92.579 km
Gauge :	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Legend from Žilina 0.00 Margecany to Košice Ružín reservoir Hnilec 4.16 Jaklovce 5.76 Žakarovce 7.54 Gelnica 8.80 Gelnica mesto Gelnica tunnel (length: 220 m) 12.98 Gelnica zastávka Hnilec Hnilec 15.29 Prakovce zastávka 16.14 Prakovce 18.56 Helcmanovce 22.87 Mníšek nad Hnilcom to Smolnická Huta 27.72 Švedlár zastávka Hnilec 30.81 Švedlár 35.26 Stará Voda Tichá voda 39.50 Nálepkovo 43.95 Tretí Hámor 46.80 Nálepkovo-Pekisko 53.16 Hnilec 56.79 Sykavka 59.71 Rakovec 61.10 Mlynky zastávka Mlynky tunnel (length: 140 m) 62.72 Mlynky 65.56 Dedinky Palcmanská maša Palcmanská maša Hámry tunnel (length: 300 m) Stratená tunnel (length: 105 m) 68.92 Stratená Jarabský I tunnel (length: 372 m) Jarabský II tunnel (length: 326 m) 72.99 Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa 78.39 Vernár 930  m nm Besník tunnel (length: 849 m) Hron tunnel (length: 250 m) Telgárt roundabout tunnel (length: 1240 m) 85.42 Telgárt penzión 87.98 Telgárt 92.58 Červená scale to Banská Bystrica

The Margecany – Červená Skala railway line is a single-track railway line in Slovakia . It runs through the Slovak Ore Mountains and southeast of the Low Tatras from Margecany to Červená Skala .

history

Today's main line between Margecany and Červená Skala has its origins in the former Göllnitz Valley Railway . Since 1884 this ran as a standard gauge local railway from Margecany through the valley of the Hnilec to Gelnica . This was followed by a meter-gauge narrow-gauge railway to Smolnícka Huta until 1965 .

With the establishment of Czechoslovakia after the First World War and the associated change in traffic flows, there was a great need for efficient east-west connections. In this context, a continuation of the Göllnitz Valley Railway parallel to the Slovak Ore Mountains to Červená Skala was planned. A railway through the valley of the Hron has led there since 1903 .

At the beginning of the 1930s, the construction of the difficult route began, which dragged on for several years.

Opening dates

• Margecany – Gelnica (Göllnitztalbahn) * December 27, 1884
• Telgárt –Červená Skala * October 1, 1933
• Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa –Telgárt * September 28, 1934
• Mlynky –Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa * December 31, 1935
• Gelnica – Mlynky * July 26, 1936

Route description

It runs in an east-west direction first along the Hnilec river and then below the Besník saddle in the valley of the upper Gran ( Horehronie ). The route is very scenic. It leads over long stretches through the Slovak Ore Mountains , but also touches the Low Tatras .

particularities

Telgárt roundabout tunnel entrance ...

and Telgárt tunnel exit (in the background the railway viaduct)

The Vernár stop (930 m) is the highest standard-gauge train station in Slovakia . At 957 m, the line in the nearby Besník Tunnel reaches the highest point on a standard gauge line in Slovakia.

The Telgárt roundabout tunnel is also worth mentioning .

business

Several local trains run every day and, until 2014, the “Horehronec” pair of express trains. There are currently two through express trains Margecany – Banska Bystrica. Freight traffic is of minor importance and only takes place regularly to Nálepkovo.

Web links and sources

• Details of the route (Slovak)
• Course book table 173 valid from March 2, 2014