AGH Locomotive

The Ty2-559 steam locomotive, commonly known as "Żyleta" (The Razor), was built in 1943 by F. Schichau GmbH in Elbląg. After the war, it became the property of the Polish State Railways (PKP) and over the decades it was relocated multiple times, until it arrived in Chojnice in December 1966, where it was decommissioned in the 1970s. The locomotive rusted away for many years but was saved from scrapping thanks to an initiative by students from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. The idea to bring the steam locomotive to the AGH campus emerged during the 2007/08 academic year, and its authors were Łukasz Wzorek and Maciej Król. After gaining approval from the university authorities and collaborating with the "Era Parowozów" Foundation, they managed to negotiate the terms under which PKP Cargo agreed to transfer the locomotive. On March 30, 2008, the steam locomotive arrived in Krakow after a two-day journey. Over the following year, the locomotive underwent renovation at PTK ZNiUT in Dzierżno, and it returned to Krakow on May 21, 2009. Transporting it to the square in front of the university's B-5 pavilion required raising the tram overhead lines, demonstrating the challenges involved in such operations. The official handover of the locomotive to the academic community took place on May 30, 2009, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of AGH. Weighing 115 tons and measuring 23 meters in length, the locomotive has become not only a technical monument but also a significant cultural and historical artifact related to the Polish railway industry. Interestingly, due to legal loopholes regarding the valuation of historical monuments, the steam locomotive and its tender were transferred to AGH free of charge. "Żyleta" is not only a symbol of engineering but also engages the academic community in promoting railway and industrial heritage.