The first train to Rumburk

The first train arrived in Rumburk 150 years ago. An industrial boom has started

1/16/2019

Rumburk - Now the trains to the Šluknov promontory run mainly people. However, this was not the case at the time of the opening of the railway line. It was created due to the cheap transport of coal. Today, it is exactly 150 years since the first train arrived in Rumburk and could begin the rapid development of industry throughout the region.

The first work trains on the line from Bakov nad Jizerou passed in May 1868. With the opening of the line, it was expected to complete the construction of the line from Děčín via Jedlová to Varnsdorf. "The first train from Česká Lípa arrived at Rumburk railway station on January 16, 1869. The reason for building a denser line network, which was the loss of the war with Prussia, is remarkable. In the surrender conditions, an accelerated connection of the Austrian railways to the Saxon and Prussian ones was determined, "said historian Ester Sadivová.

ROCKET DEVELOPMENT

As in other places in the Šluknov region, the arrival of the first trains meant a rapid development of industry. The promontory could thus become the richest region of the entire monarchy at the time. "The construction of the railway to Rumburk meant mainly the supply of coal to industry. Until the opening of the line, it was transported either by wagons from Bad Schandau from the Elbe, or later from Sebnitz, after the railway was introduced to this border town, "explained the director of the Děčín district archive, Jan Němec.

The paradox is that although the Šluknov region was very densely populated at the beginning of the second half of the 19th century, Rumburk had to wait for the train for significantly longer than, for example, Děčín. The first train arrived there on the line between Prague and Dresden as early as April 1851. However, the journey to the new connection of Rumburk to the southern area began much earlier than the first steam locomotive rang at the Rumburk railway station. The concession for the construction of the line was granted in October 1865, ie only three and a quarter years before the first run.

Arnošt Antonín František of Valdštejn and his companions Max Egon Count of Fürstenberg, Count Kaunitz, Eduard Herbst, Vojtěch Lann and Franz Schmeykal were granted a concession to build a 90-kilometer railway from Bakov nad Jizerou through Česká Lípa to Rumburk. The intention was also to build branch lines through Benešov nad Ploučnicí to Podmokly (for access to the Elbe and connection to the State Railway) and to Varnsdorf with the possibility of connecting to Zittau.

"Vojtěch Lanna Sr., a Prague entrepreneur, was commissioned to build, after which his son and Jan Schebek continued. They undertook to carry out the construction for 5,057,009 gold. The price included construction work, building materials, station equipment and the purchase of means of transport, "Ester Sadivová explained the costs of the project.

Construction began in October 1866, and due to the demanding terrain, when the 41-kilometer track overcomes an elevation gain of 428 meters, a large number of people took part in it. For example, in the section from Bakov nad Jizerou to Bělá, up to five thousand workers worked at one time. The Podmokel branch was then hampered by the construction of bridges over Kamenice.

Even in the 19th century, it was not administratively easy to open the track. First, technical-police tests of locomotives had to be carried out, followed by a test of the entire line. Only after their fulfillment could the first trains run on the track.

 


Author: Alexandr Vanžura

Source: https://decinsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/prvni-vlak-do-rumburku-prijel-pred-150-lety-odstartoval-prumyslovy-boom-20190115.html

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