Railway Herald
What was a glorious sunny morning in Sofia on 19th October 2024 was anything but in the Pernik region, a mere thirty minute drive away to the southwest of the capital. Disappointing yes, but the opportunity to capture this scene from a vantage point which would not have been possible had the sun been shining. BDZ PP Swiss-built Mikado (Winterthur 3593/1925) Class 2-8-2 No. 01.23 pulls into Pernik-Razpredelitelna with the AT6581 'THE DAY of PERNIK' Attraction Train. Having run to Pernik the long way round via Voluyak, Hrabarsko and Razmenna Pernik-Razpredelitelna is ideally situated to allow a run-round manoeuvre to be performed in readiness for the return run to the capital. Some tender-first running will be required to reach the initial outbound destination of Pernik main station. A second run-round will take place on reaching which will result in the loco being correctly positioned at the head of the train smoke-box first for the return run to the capital by the more direct route through Vladaya, Gorna Banya and Zahana-fabrika.
Stephen Ginn
