GAUGE THE ISSUE: A Tribute To Howard Jones
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2023
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JUST TO CLEAR UP CONFUSION!
A few people have (rightfully) reminded me at 1:20 I stated Poland was "part of the Soviet Union". While the wording was technically incorrect, I was trying to imply that Poland, while an independent country in the Eastern Bloc, was under duress of communist control and therefore HAD to comply or face drastic consequences. Hence the continued use of steam traction into the early 90s.
Though I happily concede the choice of words, while not intending to declare a consensual alliance between Russia and Poland, was misleading. In reality, Poland was secretly AGAINST the Soviet regime.
Apologies for any confusion caused.
My Polish grandad never returned after WWII because of the Russians. The Poles were well and truly oppressed by the USSR. Sad.
Thank you Howard...
Years ago I started volunteering for a small heritage railway in the south of Canada hoping to be experience around steam locomotives and actual railway operations, (even if it wasn't full scale operations). About a year after joining the group I was talking with one of my colleagues about places in the modern world where was still it was possible to learn how exactly to operate steam locomotives, he told me about how he came across Wolsztyn Experience and how him, along with a few others from our organisation had taken the trip to Poland. Upon returning from the work we finished I convinced my parents to let me go if I had the money. 3000 dollars worth of savings later I had my trip and my footplate work term booked for august of 2019. After many shenanigans of travelling by train across Europe we finally made it to Wolsztyn where we meet Howard along with a another pair of heritage railway working from the UK joining us the the experience. The first thing Howard said to all of us after our introduction was to something along the lines of, "All of you work for the heritage sector so you have a good bit more experience then most, but your lines general pull trains once or twice every now and then trundling up and down the line at not more then 20 miles an hour but here brace yourself cause this is the real deal". All throughout the time we spent there Howard would pop in a check up on us to see if we had survived making the usually short interactions enjoyable as he managed the program. (On a side note, at the time we were supposed to drive and fire three different locomotives for three days on three separate runs but at the time 2-6-2 OL-49-59 was having work on its wheels done and the 2-8-2 PT-47-65 had major work being done to its tender). Howard to compensate for this let us get six runs in on OL-49-69 which I personally thought was better since I got to know that particular locomotive more, not only did he do all that joint for us but he also invited us to a cookout for railway worker and their family's, and to put the icing on the cake at the end of it all because we had been showing and learning from the actual engine crew and since the railway is running a public service we were official unpaid employees of the Polish State Railway!!! Albeit it was only good for six months and I was only allowed to drive number 69 in and around Wolsztyn. Getting to the point Howard made that year by fare the best year of my life he was like a charming grandfather telling story and keeping things going with an old English charm while making the charm of that Polish town know to the world. His work had not only done this for me but thousands of other people from around the world and for that I could not be more grateful to him.
Rest peacefully Howard You've earn it.
TLDR: Thanks to this man I lived my childhood dream.
RIP Howard. Thanks to him, I was able to ‘experience’ scheduled service steam trains many times. Something I could never do in the UK for the money. A lot of cherished memories; thanks mate😞
Thanks for your tribute. I spent many years with my wife and two Grandchildren in Poland, enjoying the Wolsztyn Experience, thanks to Howard and his team and of course, not forgetting the Polish drivers and firemen, together with their support team at the shed.
I found the best way to visit was in fact to drive over, via Hook of Holland. This then gave us the opportunity to take the two boys to places such as the Great Escape, the Bunkers and many other places of interest. Above all, it gave the boys memories and experiences that 99.9% of their peers could never experience. Where else, other than Poland, could two young boys, ride the footplate of a steam loco, being driven( under supervision of course) by their Grandad? All thanks to Howard and the WE team. Hopefully, we will get back to Wolsztyn before too long
Along with Alan Pegler, Howard Jones is definitely someone to look up to in railway heritage.
Such sad news. I participated in the experience in 2018 then again with my best friend of 30 years in 2019. One of the greatest experiences of my life. Not without it's challenges, one of the drivers in the group was a miserable bugger but everything else was incredible as were the rest of the team. So glad we took the chance to do it while we could.
I went to Wolsztyn for Midsummer eve 1990, before Howard Jones started his good work. I saw one of these engines move into a siding at the end of a shift; but no trains ran on midsummer; and I had a plane to catch. It was a marvellous Midsummer, and I have to say that the steam engine was not the best memory.
I got to Wolsztyn a double decker d.m.u, travelling slow but steady; which pushed through a hay meadow growing over the rails for kilometres, and there was a cloud of beautiful butterflies pushed up like the wake of a small ship at splendid speed. I also wrote a poem for a lady of Wolsztyn. Fortunately it'll take me hours to find a copy.
I wish I had known of Howard Jones' work. He must have started the year after I was there. I would have just given him small amounts of money in the times I had some spare.
Sadly, I've never done the Wolsztyn experience before, great work as usual Chris, and rest in peace Howard
What an inspiring story! Rest in peace Howard Jones. And thank you for making this video as a tribute to him and his work, I hadn't heard of the Wolsztyn experience before, what a wonderful thing to have shared with the world.
RIP Howard, you will always be remembered as a legend amongst many, Niech żyje polska para, Niech żyje Wolsztyn, Niech żyje Ochrona Kolei Polskiej!
My traveling partner and I attended the Wolsztyn experience in June 25-29 2019. We also rented the NG in Sroda -the best $500 I ever spent. We had dinner with Howard who clearly loved the program and encouraged everyone to participate. I agree that the cost of - food for example- good food too- was significantly cheaper than here in the states. We were in Poland during a heat wave with temps in the loco cab roping 125 plus. Thank you Howard! RIP
I wish I had the time (and cash) to do the Sroda line too!
Thanks for sharing
A fascinating and most enjoyable video, really well presented . Thank you.
A great epitaph to a great man. Nice one Chris. You never know just all who are interested in Railways and making things work. Sad to see so much work on the Wolstyn Experience come to an end. Thanks for the footage too. Glad you got that one in. Keep safe, sir. Cheers!
Late to the party, but I'd like to share some experience of the Wolzstyn experience if I may.
I read on the WE site a few years ago that the operation was shutting down back then, so I made it my business for either myself or my brother get out there and do it. If only one of us did it, we considered it "mission accomplished".
Fortunately, we both made it out there at the same time, getting a chance to fire and drive 0l49-59 and Pt47 65 on the route to Leszno and back, usually either early or mid morning runs (two early, two later). The Pt was being run in after repairs but kept suffering little problems that took it out of traffic until the last full day when we had a run out on her to Leszno the day befor she did a Poznan run with Howard. (I didn't drive number 65, but firing her was well worth the experience! After four days on the 0l49, my brother wasnt keen on the Pt but grew to like it as he got more used to it, even if he did make it slip when pulling out of Glowny!).
Howard, well what can I say? Absolutely lovely bloke! Chatty and told some interesting tales about amusing incidents, and accounts of visitors such as Michael Palin.
Andrej was a memorable character I recall as well, grumpy bugger but nice bloke all the same! Better English speaker than most there. Remember him giving my arm a squeeze and going "strong!" When I came off the last firing turn. He certainly grew on you after a while!
I'd also like to make mention of Howard's widow Alex, a genuinely lovely and kindly lady who's warm and friendly attitude made visiting Poland all the more pleasurable than it already was.
RIP to a great bloke who lived a life well lived and did so much for steam. We wouldn't have experienced so much if it wasn't for him and there isn't a day that passes where I spare the WE and my time on it a thought or two.
Excellent tribute to a hero of steam preservation. Bravo!
Rip my favorite howard we will miss you in our family
As a person who is half polish and was looking into polish steam it is a real shame he passed away. I am finally going to Poland for the first time next summer to see family in Warsaw and my parents were going to let me travel and see the country. I wanted to see the steam shops and see polish steam in operation however I doubt I will now get to see that. I do hope someone can save the operation or the government steps in and realize how it is a valuable asset to that town. But this is most likely sadly the end.
A really insightful and inspiring video. Thank you Chris.
I never got to go. I might never be able to see steam engines doing real work.
I had been saving up for this, sadly my job got in the way. I hope some one can save this for the future
Good lord! Why am I only learning about this experience NOW?!
To be fair, while the Experience received some press coverage, it perhaps wasn't the level of coverage it needed or deserved.
1:20 that, and we essentially skipped dieselisation. In the 1960-80 you could see diesels, steam engines and electric engines working side by side.
Shame it's going out. I've only just finished my final exams and now has been the first chance I'd be able to do something like this. :(
it sounds like you had a great time meeting Howard jones
sounds like you enjoyed your ride on the footplate
I have been to Wolsztyn twice (and was planning to go this year as well, but, sadly, that is not going to happen) and got to drive the Ol49-69 and the Pt47-65. Howard was great at conversation and he really tried to make my visits as good as possible, including the people I came with, who may not necessarily be train enthusiasts.
I also saw that the whole business was 100% dependent on Howard and one of the drivers, if one of them decided to stop, the business would end.
During my last visit, something similar happened like what was described in the video - the Pt47-65 was used for the regular services while the Ol49-69 was supposed to be taken to Jaworzyna Śląska museum for filming. However, when they tried to raise steam, they found some problem that required dropping the fire to repair. After the repair was done, they had to raise steam again and there was a possibility of a new problem developing. That left Howard with a problem - what to do if the loco has some other problem? Thankfully, everything went fine and I got to drive the Ol49-69 as a light engine to Leszno, where I got off and went to visit the museum riding regular trains.
But yeah, there is not a single operational steam engine in wolsztyn right now, and in Poland as a whole there is less than 10 operational standard gauge steam locomotives.
Thank you for sharing Chris. This felt like more of a personal tribute than a GTI. Really appreciated though. My inner pedant would like to say one thing, Poland was never part of the Soviet Union.
I was trying to imply that it was under Soviet control (yay Eastern Block!l but I'm sorry the choice of words wasn't very clear
@@ChristheXelent It was a minor mistake and quite acceptable given you weren’t born when the Warsaw Pact collapsed so i will have a word with my inner pedant and point out some of its own shortcomings. Keep GTIing! 😀
Awesome video
Brilliant story but with a very sad ending.
As for coal supplies to UK heritage railways, I’ve been to Grosmont a couple times recently and I’ve never seen so much coal.
A couple of years ago there was concerns at the NYMR. They had crap Russian coal, in much lower quantities due to lockdown and cough ahem Brexit.
Looks like they’re sorted for now. They’re doing cheaper tickets temporarily, and there’s a lot more visitors.
Ah, but then they've got to make it last.
Recently, one of the drivers at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway told me they bulk bought enough for the next few years, but there's no way of telling what will happen when the supply runs dry. Fos-y-fran have said they'll cease mining altogether in March 2024 and biocoal has varied from batch to batch.
I have been lucky to do the Experience 3 times each one was just wonderful. OL49 OK22 TY3 &the PM pacific. all were fired and or driven . A lot of unseen work by Howard just made it happen. The concept was imaginative the practicalities immense and the will to see these running was in his heart. Lots of images and memories
Wandering down to the shed at 04-something the smoke could be seen slowly rising from the shed. Then the sound that could not be identified… it was the “Music” blasting out of the “Night Club” I had to cross the lines to hear the rhythmic pant of the air pump. Pure heaven. [ but not the music]. RIP Howard…… But I hope not the steam scene round Wolsztyn
loved watching your tribute to his memory, I take my flat cap off to him.
will you do one for Adrian Shooter who passed on last winter
Lets be clear it was absolutely against regulations for visitors to drive the locos. Firing was officially tolerated. But Howard had such a good relationshio with the crew and ability to mislead PKP management that for a daily 50 zloty and half litre of vodka for each crew member (supplied by the 'visitor') I and many other were able to drive on scheduled services stopping at dozens of stations and keeping to time. My highlights driving along the Berlin Warsaw mainline as fast as OL69 would go (about 60mph rocking and a rolling so as notto hold up the 100mph electrics) and into Poznan station, uncoupling reversing back over the trackwork to the steam depot oiling and watering the loco. The driver turned it and I reversed back across the maze of tracks following the ground signal lights down onto the train (theres a polish video with me looking out the cab window). Then I fired in the dark (what an experience) back to Wolzstyn. Flippin wow!
Second visit I drove out to Poznan across a fresh snow field (first service of the day). Just a clean clear field of snow as far as you could see and my train pounding through it. Lots. lots more.
Howard was a marvel, dealing with some really awkward characters both Polish, American and British. (Enthusiasts can be stupidly selfish and unreasonable. Polish bureaucrats were worse). he told me it had lasted so long because it had gone on so long that PKP (polish railways) management just accpeted there was this weird little operation out in the SW but it was too much trouble to interfere with them. I never stop talking about it. And I dont think I ever will. Thank you Howard and Trevor and all the Polich guys whose names I have now sadly forgotten.
LADS! WOLSTYN STEAM IS BACK!
the 21 century version of Tom Rolt?
Good video. One correction: Poland was not part of the Soviet Union, it was an independant country though firmly under control of the Russians and indeed part of the Eastern Bloc.
I was about to comment that mistake lol
Noted, but being under such control was what I implied. Sorry it wasn't very clear
OK comment, on correction. Poland was not an independant country as you state but an independent one and was largely under Soviet control so not sure it is the right word even if spelt successfully! Thought I'd join in the pedantry here, lol!
I went to this railway and had a couple of trips about 10 years ago. It was good and got a cab ride.
Wonderful video Chris. Serious question for you; would you perhaps consider trying to keep the experience alive? Maybe even try to get a few other people involved too. All things must pass to other people at some stage and it does seem a shame for this to die out. What do you think?
I think it would take some serious startup investment to get some operational engines first. But you're right, all things must pass onto others. So, best not to say 'never' just yet
Yeah, someone needs to try to keep it alive, though, remembering what Howard said about his problems keeping it alive, it may be very difficult.
Still, if someone credible (like Chris) were to start crowdfunding, I would be willing to contribute. After all, I would really like to be able to go there again.