Route Sub - Sudetic Trunk Line: Kędzierzyn-koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki + Branch Lines (poland)

Hello everyone,

I'd like to introduce you to the concept of the Polish route for Train Sim World 6, which is the Sub-Sudetic Main Line: Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, along with the Nysa - Głuchołazy, Racławice Śląskie - Głubczyce, and Prudnik - Krapkowice branches. Why this particular route? It captures the atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s, the communist era. As a non-electrified railway, when most of Poland's main lines were already electrified, this route remained the most important testing ground for heavy diesel locomotives, where Polish railways tested the machines' durability in difficult, hilly terrain. Furthermore, it was a "strategic" line – in the event of war, it was intended to transport troops and fuel, bypassing large cities. The route will offer a diverse mix of passenger connections (express and regional), freight, and siding maneuvers, adding life to the route, enhanced by its non-linear nature.

Route, Time, and Location:

This route will comprise a section of Railway Line No. 137 (Katowice-Legnica) on the Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki route, along with three branch lines, giving the route a non-linear character. The route will be set in the 1970s (2nd half) or 1980s (1st half), lending it a communist-era feel. The setting will be the then Opole Voivodeship (today part of the Opole and Lower Silesian Voivodeships).

Route section:

Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki Route (part of Railway Line No. 137):

(Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa Section):

- Kędzierzyn-Koźle;
- Kędzierzyn-Koźle Stop;
- Kędzierzyn-Koźle Zachodnie;
- Pokrzywnica;
- Twardawa;
- Głogówek;
- Racławice Śląskie;
- Dytmarów;
- Prudnik;
- Szybowice;
- Nowy Świętów;
- Domaszkowice;
- Nysa;

(Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki Section):

- Nysa;
- Radzikowice;
- Goświnowice;
- Wójcice;
- Otmuchów;
- Otmuchów Jezioro;
- Paczków;
- Doboszowice;
- Kamieniec Ząbkowicki;

Sides of the route:

(Nysa - Głuchołazy route):

- Nysa;
- Nowy Świętów;
- Głuchołazy Las;
- Głuchołazy;

(Racławice Śląskie - Głubczyce route):

- Racławice Śląskie;
- Żabczyce;
- Głubczyce;

(Prudnik - Krapkowice route):

- Prudnik;
- Lubrza;
- Biała Prudnicka;
- Zielina;
- Kujawy;
- Krapkowice;

Rolling stock:

It will largely consist of diesel traction, which was ubiquitous in this region.

Diesel Locomotives:

- SP45/HCP 301D - a diesel locomotive manufactured by the HCP (H. Cegielski – Poznań) plant in Poznań. The locomotive served on non-electrified routes, pulling passenger and express trains. It is equipped with a 1,750 hp 2112SSF engine, manufactured under license from Fiat, which is why it was often called "Fiat."



- SU46/HCP 303D - a diesel locomotive manufactured by the HCP plant in Poznań, used in mixed traffic – both passenger and freight trains. It has the same engine as the SP45, but produces a higher power output of 2,250 hp. The locomotive's appearance may look quite familiar (yes, it looks like a Class 66).



- ST44 (also known as "Iwan" or "Gagarin") - a Soviet diesel locomotive known as the M62, known in Poland as the ST44. This version will be adapted to Polish standards, and thanks to its 14D40 engine power of 2,000 hp, it will be ideally suited for freight trains.



- SM42/Fablok 6D - a shunting locomotive manufactured by Fablok in Chrzanów (incidentally, that's my hometown). It is the most famous shunting locomotive in Poland, used on the sidings of many industrial plants and station sidings.



- SP42/Fablok 101D - a passenger version of the SM42 used on non-electrified regional routes.



- SM48/TEM2 (also known as "Tamara") - a Soviet shunting locomotive known as the TEM2, known in Poland as the SM48. This locomotive is primarily used for shunting, but also as a freight locomotive.



Passenger coaches:

- Bhp Double-Decker Car (also known as "Bipa") - a double-decker car manufactured by the East German Waggonbau Görlitz factory, used for regional services on the route and on branch lines;



- HCP 111A Coach - a 2nd-class passenger car (UIC-Y standard) manufactured by HCP, used on express trains on the Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki route;



- HCP 112A Coach - a 1st-class passenger car (UIC-Y standard) manufactured by HCP. Like the 111A, they are used on express trains on the Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki route;



- HCP110A (also known as "Wars") - bar car known as "Wars" used on express trains;



Freight Wagons:

(Coal Wagons):

- 401W (Eaos) - a classic Polish coal wagon used since the 1970s for transporting aggregates and other bulk materials;



- 17W (Es) - a small two-axle coal wagon for transporting aggregates and other goods;



(Covered Freight Wagons):

- 401K (Gags) - a covered freight wagon used by PKP at the time;



- 201K (Gbs) - a two-axle covered freight wagon used by PKP at the time;



(Tanker):

- 406R - a tank wagon still used by PKP today for transporting liquid fuel;



(Platform Wagon):

- 401Z - a platform wagon used for transporting timber;



(Hopper Wagon):

- 202V (Fals) - a hopper wagon used in track construction, but also for transporting fine aggregate;



(Service Wagon):

- Ft (Brankard) - a service wagon attached to freight trains (at the beginning or end of the train behind the locomotive), with a special raised platform for the train manager. These wagons were once mandatory in freight trains;



Connections:

(Express trains - stop at some stations. Route - Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Głogówek – Prudnik – Nysa – Otmuchów – Paczków – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki):

- Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Nysa: approx. 65–75 min;
- Nysa – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki: approx. 35–40 min;
- Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Nysa – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki: 1h 40min – 1h 55min;

(Regional trains - main line. Route: Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Kędzierzyn-Koźle Stop – Kędzierzyn-Koźle Zachodnie – Pokrzywnica – Twardawa – Głogówek – Racławice Śląskie – Dytmarów – Prudnik – Szybowice – Nowy Świętów – Domaszkowice – Nysa – Radzikowice – Goświnowice – Wójcice – Otmuchów – Otmuchów Jezioro (seasonal) – Paczków – Doboszowice – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki):

- Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa (all stops): approx. 1 hour 35 minutes – 1 hour 45 minutes;
- Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki (all stops): approx. 50 minutes – 1 hour 05 minutes; - Kędzierzyn-Koźle - Nysa - Kamieniec Ząbkowicki (all stops): approx. 2 hours 30 minutes – 2 hours 50 minutes;

(Regional trains - branches):

(Nysa – Głuchołazy branch. Route: Nysa – Radzikowice – Nowy Świętów – Głuchołazy Las – Głuchołazy):

- Nysa – Głuchołazy: approx. 30–35 minutes (due to the mountainous gradient on which the route is located, players will have to contend with difficult terrain);

(Racławice Śląskie – Głubczyce branch. Route: Racławice Śląskie – Żabczyce – Głubczyce):

- Racławice Śląskie – Głubczyce: approx. 25–30 minutes;

(Prudnik – Krapkowice branch. Route: Prudnik – Lubrza – Biała Prudnicka – Zielina – Kujawy – Krapkowice):

- Prudnik – Krapkowice: approx. 45–55 min (speed 40–60 km/h applies);

(Freight trains - main line):

Due to the fact that it takes almost 3 hours for such a train to travel the entire line, I decided to divide the route into sections:

- Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Marshalling Yard) – Nysa: approx. 1 hour 45 minutes;
- Nysa – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki: approx. 1 hour 10 minutes;

(Freight trains - branches):

- Freight: Nysa – Głuchołazy: approx. 40–45 minutes;
- Freight: Racławice Śląskie – Głubczyce: approx. 35–40 minutes; - Freight: Prudnik – Krapkowice: approx. 55–65 minutes (maximum speed for freight trains on this line is 30–40 km/h);

Scenery:

The scenery along this route is a fascinating, multi-layered portrait of Poland at the turn of the century, where raw industrialism meets the idyllic landscape of the foothills. The journey begins in the sultry atmosphere of Kędzierzyn-Koźle, where the sky above the gigantic junction takes on a gray hue from the smoke from the chimneys of the Nitrogen Plant. The landscape is dominated by labyrinths of pipes, massive concrete cooling towers, and the steel structures of port cranes on the Oder River, all bathed in the light of the tall light towers of the marshalling yard. After leaving the junction, the trains enter the agricultural heart of the Opole region, where the scenery transforms into vast, rolling expanses of fields full of rapeseed and grain. The atmosphere of the era is created by details: lines of local "Motoring Wonders" line up before the closed crossing gates, manually operated by crossing guards from brick huts. Stations and stops like Głogówek and Prudnik are gems of Prussian architecture – red brick buildings with "Timbered Walls," water towers, and rows of mechanical semaphores, their arms cutting across the sky with a loud, metallic clatter. Further west, the route earns the nickname "Sudeten Riviera." The tracks run almost along the shores of Lakes Nysa and Otmuchow. The panorama of the Opawskie Mountains and the Czech Jeseníky Mountains emerges increasingly distinct on the horizon, and the trains pass the medieval defensive walls of Paczków. On branches like the trail to Głuchołazy, the scenery becomes wild and dense – the train disappears into coniferous forests, negotiating tight curves in deep ravines where the roar of the diesel engine echoes off the rocky slopes. The whole is complemented by the smell of sun-warmed, oil-soaked railway sleepers in summer, or the wisp of gray smoke from the coal stoves in the rural cottages, settling over the tracks on frosty winter mornings.

Additional features:

- Semaphores - in the 1970s and 1980s, classic semaphores were used on the route instead of railway light signals, adding an old-fashioned touch.

- Polish Vigilance Systems - two such systems were used in Polish trains and locomotives: Czuwak Aktywny (Active Deadmen's Switch) and SHP (Automatic Train Braking). In fact, these systems are an integral part of the locomotive's safety circuits. After activating the cab and engaging the control fuses, these systems are activated automatically. The driver has neither the right nor the physical ability to disable them with a simple switch on the panel during normal operation. Any attempt to disconnect them (e.g., by pulling the fuse in the low-voltage cabinet) is considered a technical fault, requires reporting to the signaller, and results in a drastic reduction in train speed. To avoid the negative experiences seen on the LIRR Commuter route, where players had to deal with difficult-to-master alert systems, often leading to frustrating train stops for no apparent reason, my concept involves introducing a dedicated option in the game settings. Similar to SimRail or MaSzyna, an option could be added in the game settings that would allow players to decide whether to play with these systems activated or deactivated.

This is my idea for a Polish route for Train Sim World.

 

Nice suggestion but, as with your other idea, would DTG be convinced of enough sales to go up against SimRail?