Railway Herald
At Bansko station on the Rhodope Valley Railway narrow gauge 0-10-0T (CMK1085/1927) number 504-76 is a reminder that steam once played an important role on this line until as late as 1976. Built in Czechoslovakia in 1927/1928 by CKD in Prague 504 was one of four such examples, later increased to six for the steeply graded Rhodope line. Several steam locos were based at Bansko where there is a small shed, turntable and of course the water tower. In those times freight was a major source of income for the line making the latter profitable unlike today when it requires a subsidy to remain viable. Image taken 17th October 2018.
Stephen Ginn
