Chasing the train

‘Will it be on Saturday or on Sunday?’ Blaž eagerly wished it to be on Sunday, so that he can be a part of it. He was impatiently checking the forums. And then it was finally declared. ‘It will be on Sunday!!’

On Sunday, 18 March 2012, the locomotive 361-106 set off for its last journey to Illirska Bistrica, where it now rests as an exhibit. Series 361 with the nickname Breda (after the company) were the first electric locomotives in Slovenia and were operated by the Yugoslavian Railways. Yugoslavia got 17 of these from Italy as World War II reparations. Only two of their kinds are left in Slovenia, the other being plinthed at Central Workshops in Ljubljana. The 361-106 was decommissioned in 1978 as the last of those operating in Slovenia after operating for 30 years on the Pivka-Reka line. Then it had to wait around 32 years in bad conditions. Restoration of the outside began in 2010. It was painted to match the colors from its most known period in Slovenia. After covering a total of 3.8 million km (including Italy period), the locomotive 361-106 finally found its home at Illirska Bistrica train station.

The locomotive left the museum shed at 5 in the morning. Already around 15 people were waiting there to capture the moment. We however decided to wait at the Ljubljana station from where it would officially start the journey.  A couple of other people were waiting too. While taking the chance to photograph the other interesting train activities going around us, we impatiently waited for our locomotive to arrive.

Slowly we started spotting more people wearing these reflective vests for safety, and with every minute the number of these fluorescent vests around was increasing. Soon we could see the bright headlights of the helping locomotive on the bridge. The biggest diesel locomotive 664-117 brought the Breda number 106 to Ljubljana. The 664, known as “Reagan”, is quite magnificent in its old-school dark green color, and interestingly with an air of authority around it. Towed behind arrived the locomotive 361-106, the star of the show. It was the first time I saw the locomotive in real life. It looks vintage and grand. The combination of the unusual shade of green and bright red adds to its glamour and grandeur. It looks different, truly from some far away time. A piece of history.

By the time the locomotive came to rest, the platform was full of these reflective vests. And all of them enthusiastically busy with their cameras. I have never seen so many cameras and video cameras together in my life that do not belong to media and professionals. The platform was full of tripods. Some had gone down on the tracks to capture the locomotives from different angles. They captured the whole locomotive, the wheels, the specifications written in white, the emblem, and every other little detail through their lenses. There was this excitement, tension and rush that could be felt all around.

The 361-106 does not have its interior restored and therefore cannot run on its own. Hence, the diesel locomotive brought it to Ljubljana, where it was connected to another electric locomotive, 363-005. This electric locomotive is the only electric locomotive in Slovenia still in its original yellow-green livery. Both the front and back locomotives were required for safety in case Breda disconnects from any of the two, as it does not have brakes of its own.

The last journey of the locomotive 361-106 began at 6:30 from Ljubljana at 30kmph.

Breda 361-106 at Pivka station

 As soon as it left Ljubljana, everyone including us rushed back to our cars. The buzzing platform was simply empty the next second. The plan was to chase the train, follow it all the way on its last journey, and take pictures and videos at several spots. We stopped at Dolgi Most, close to Logatec, Logatec, before Postojna, before Pivka, Pivka, and Kilovče, until the final stop at Illirska Bistrica. On a few other occasions, we only saw the train passing by from the car. 

The short drive from Ljubljana station to Dolgi Most was nervous and tensed. As Blaž paid attention to driving, trying to go as fast as possible without being reckless, I was looking out for the train. We had to overtake the train and there were of course traffic lights, the situation was turning anxious and edgy. We quickly parked the car at Dolgi Most and almost ran by the tracks across the little railway bridge to get a good angle for pictures. Blaž said a quick ‘careful’, I muttered a hurried ‘yes yes’. As we assumed our positions, Blaž behind the camera and me with the task of taking the video, he reminded me ‘follow the green one (Breda) while taking the video’. Most of the times we are just excited about the yellow locomotive and in my enthusiasm and excitement I almost forgot that the green was the center of attraction for the day, not the favorite yellow. As we saw the three-vehicle formation with Breda in the middle approaching blowing whistles, I prepared myself to follow the green with the lens.

People were just rushing all the time. From nowhere people would arrive, ready with their cameras, all running to take their positions just before the locomotive would appear. And as the locomotives vanished behind a turn, it would be deserted in an instant. Everyone rushed to their cars to reach the next spot. It was like those chasing scenes in action movies. People just did not look at any direction. They reached a stop, rushed down to take pictures, and then left in haste for the next one. I enjoyed the tension and urgent rush all around me. People were in touch with each other over phone getting minute-by-minute updates. Getting annoyed at any missed picture opportunity. Blaž directed me about how to position myself and how the videos should look. He would have taken the videos himself had he not been busy taking pictures. And at one point he really did that. The right hand was clicking pictures; the left hand was steady taking video. Everyone was just so excited and eager!

At Pivka station, the locomotive had a long three and half hours stop. Besides the enthusiasts following the locomotive on its journey, several other interested came to catch a farewell glimpse of the locomotive. There was media doing interviews. People passing by stopped for a moment to get a picture using their mobile phones, dads showed it to their little children. Even for those who are not seriously interested in railways, this vintage locomotive was a fascinating sight. It was buzzing with activities all around. Everyone wished to capture a memory of the locomotive and the event.

They stood in a line. They were in attention with their lenses focused on the locomotive. The same angle, the same sight, and so many people in a line. They wanted the field of view to be cleared and either waited patiently or were annoyed at anyone loitering around in front of the locomotive. Everyone wanted to have a picture with the locomotive, and there was a queue to get a chance. Some people climbed the nearby tiny hill to get a different perspective of the locomotive, while somebody else climbed a tall lamppost. It was happy, amusing and thrilling to watch all the enthusiasm around. When you see so much excitement around you, the heart cannot help but race with the rest. I just exclaimed, ‘It is so exciting, interesting, and simply super fun’!

The most interesting part came when we got a chance to go inside the locomotives. Generally, one needs permission to be inside the locomotives and therefore it was a rare chance that we got. The officials eagerly explained everything and happily answered our enthusiastic questions. Blaž was especially happy to be on his favorite yellow electric locomotive. It was the most interesting one, maybe because it is the favorite one. Later at Illirska Bistrica, we even got a chance to ‘ride’ on it for a couple of meters and blow the horns. There was a chance to see the railway switchboard and get explanations about the complicated details of its working. Seeing all those buttons, levers, simple looking yet complicated machineries, feeling the heat from the engine core, one cannot be anything but excited and awed. And so were we. Like children in a candy shop, amazed at how everything works, and thrilled to get a chance to experience those. 

Before long, decorated in flags it was time for the locomotive to move towards its final destination. The leading and trailing locomotives blew loud horns as the train passed each station or any spectator by the tracks to say the last “hi”. At several points, it slowed down to 10kmph to make it easier for photography.

The tracks go by the tiny empty Kilovče station and under some road bridge connecting two hills. Blaž first decided to stand by the tracks but then thought the overbridge would give a better perspective. And instead of taking the longer road, he climbed the hill, just in case to not miss the train. Few more came at the last moment, desperately climbing the hill and quickly taking positions. In a few minutes, 15 people were at different positions and 7 of us stood side by side on the bridge. It was such a chase, an adrenaline rush! People were almost speeding, running, climbing!

The closer it came to the end, the more exciting it was. At the final stop Illirska Bistrica, around 70 people and media were there to welcome it. Amidst all the pomp and show, the Breda 361-106 arrived, both its younger cousins blowing their horns loudly. With recorders rolling and cameras clicking, the last meters of Breda’s long journey was captured in history. We had a last look at our vintage locomotive before leaving. After a long life of glory and then desertion, the locomotive 361-106 finally came to rest at Illirska Bistrica station. In the following weeks, it was moved to the spot it occupies today. And what a fun adventurous day we had chasing it on its last journey!! My little heart always wished to chase a train. And then I got a chance! And in such a grand way. As I repeated several times that day, ‘It was Super Fun’!