Railway Herald
Diesel Railcars appeared on the Rhodope Valley Mountain Railway as early as 1941, the initial examples proving to be totally under-powered for the torturous climb through the mountainous terrain. A second batch similar to the first also produced by Ganz in Budapest arrived in 1952 but with more powerful motors and in similar fashion to the previous examples were operated with additional trailers attached seating roughly 62 passengers. Numbered 82-01 to 82-04 the motor compartments in the centre of these driving units took up a large portion of each car reducing the capacity to just 40 seats. They worked the line until the 1960's when they were transferred to the less demanding Cherven Brjag line. Eventually 82-01 returned to the Rhodope line to be put on display at Bansko station alongside the water tower and small shed where it remains in situ today. This image taken on 17th October 2018.
Stephen Ginn
