Piaseczno Narrow-Gauge Railway

The Piaseczno Narrow-Gauge Railway, formerly known as the Grójec Commuter Railway, is a narrow-gauge tourist railway and the largest facility of its kind in the Warsaw region, with a track gauge of 1000 mm. Its history dates back to 1898, when it was built thanks to the initiative of a wealthy Warsaw tailor, Eugeniusz Paszkowski, who collaborated with prominent figures, including Prince Lubomirski. It was constructed with the intention of serving the growing freight transport, particularly of bricks, as well as passenger traffic to towns such as Grójec and Góra Kalwaria. After World War I, the railway experienced a boom, supplying construction materials and handling passenger transport. During World War II, it became a key element in supplying food to Warsaw, despite suffering some war damage. After the war, the infrastructure was in poor condition, but thanks to the efforts of the workers, it was successfully rebuilt. In 1949, the railway became part of the Polish State Railways (PKP), and regular passenger service ended in 1991. In 1994, it was entered into the register of historical monuments. Since 2004, it has operated as the Piaseczno Narrow-Gauge Railway, with the Piaseczno Narrow-Gauge Railway Society managing tourist traffic on the Piaseczno-Tarczyn route, organizing thematic events and trips from March to October. An interesting fact is that the station area retains buildings from the former railway infrastructure, which are now used for various purposes, and the railway provides access to attractions in Runów, where picnics are organized. It is also worth noting the historical steam locomotives and carriages used in tourism, which allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of a bygone era. The railway has a rich calendar of events that highlights its importance in the history of transport, regional development, and local culture.