Winter in Romania 2015 - 8: Tractor Power into Vaser Valley (50 p.)

Railroadforums.com is a free online Railroad Discussion Forum and Railroad Photo Gallery for railroaders, railfans, model railroaders and anyone else who is interested in railroads. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight trains, passenger and commuter railroads, rail news and information, tourist railroads, railway museums and railroad history.

ronik24

Proud Earthling
Hi,


To the previous part of the series:
Winter in Romania 2015 - 7: Moldovita Monastery (50 p.)
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum...in-Romania-2015-7-Moldovita-Monastery-(50-p-)


Link to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RcNqeNYQUo




February 19 2015

Thursday morning for a change we rode a 1960-built railcar numbered as 003 into Vaser Valley.
I captured this candid setting with three horse-drawn carts at Valea Scradei from a steep slope above the garden of an elderly lady whom we had visited before. At least in the lower part of the valley high clouds were dominating, but it also had a positive side as we had been to most spots in winter sunlight. That way we did not have to care where usually there would be shade.
rum150801.jpg




Another advantage of a railcar: Different from steamers run-pasts were not necessary as you can capture an optically identical shot while stopped. Here at the short street running bit of the Vaser Valley Railway.
rum150802.jpg




Black and white sheep.
rum150803.jpg




Little sleds were used for transport - and as elevated photo positions for tour guides (not in view ;-)).
rum150804.jpg





rum150805.jpg




Elsewhere door posts had been decorated (or protected) by insulators, at this nice lady's home it was yogurt cups.
rum150806.jpg




Quiz question: Of which particular item are there two in this photo (hidden from view)? The solution can be found below the picture.


We already thought that early in morning that it would be one of the shots of the day. By the way, the Sprite-bottle was not filled with refreshments but motor oil for the chainsaw...
rum150807.jpg







Solution: Railcar and tractor were propelled by the same engine type: 65 HP strong U 650 by UTB (Uzina Tractorul Brasov) which had been produced for decades until the factory finally was closed in 2007.




View of the cab of railcar 003, probably one of the few worldwide where the driver is not sitting at the windscreen but further back due to the position of the transmission. The lever to the front left is the gear shift, the clutch pedal to the left, accelerator pedal to the right, the brake is like with all Vaser Valley vehicles just a manual crank.
For a better insight into the workings of this ingenious machine see video from minute 50:46 including cabride.
rum150808.jpg




No forest railway vehicle is complete without wood-burning stove, even if political pamphlets had escaped incineration until now - everything is burnt, even plastic bottles.
rum150809.jpg




We traversed a wobbly "bridge" to the lumber site opposite Novat, at the same time the horse-drawn carts we already had spotted arrived.
rum150810.jpg





rum150811.jpg




The orange Tatra-lorry we had witnessed the days before was in service again, too.
rum150812.jpg




Heavy duty for animal and human at the river crossing.
rum150813.jpg




Probably no backside stays dry crossing the Vaser River...
rum150814.jpg





rum150815.jpg




A "train" into the opposite direction.
rum150816.jpg





rum150817.jpg




I don't wish for a cuddly toy from a machine, but a 1960s railcar! ;o)
rum150818.jpg




We returned to the wobbly bridge behind Novat Delta where we let the railcar pass one more time.
rum150819.jpg




Then crossed back to the other side.
rum150820.jpg




We arrived at Cozia and met a production train. Notice details like the tarpaulin above the cab window.
rum150821.jpg




87-0015 hauled a long row of over 20 wagons downhill - you can still spot the train at the hut furthest back.
rum150822.jpg




Departing Cozia we had left the cloud behind us and enjoyed at least some sun that day.
rum150823.jpg




Panning shot past ice falls.
rum150824.jpg




"Welcome to Vaser Valley"
rum150825.jpg




Our railcar passed the "entrance" to Vaser Valley at the private siding Novicior.
rum150826.jpg





rum150827.jpg




87-0032 met us with the second long Viseu-bound production train of the day at the loop behind Paltin.
rum150828.jpg




View from the same spot at railcar 003.
rum150829.jpg




At the entrance to the first tunnel behind Bardau we met a track walker.
rum150830.jpg




Departing the first tunnel.
rum150831.jpg




Normally I am no friend of flash photography, but in case you catch the flash of somebody else... inside tunnel #2 of 3.
rum150832.jpg




Crossing Vaser River between tunnels #2 and #3.
rum150833.jpg




Inside the bear's den - the railcar had slight trouble getting into gear inside tunnel #3.
rum150834.jpg




We reversed shortly later at Botizu.
rum150835.jpg




Once more we had excellent lunch service, the leftovers were at first ignored by Puffi...
rum150836.jpg




... only to enjoy them soon afterwards with a bowl of water.
rum150837.jpg




Driver and brakeman(-reflection) in a moment of relaxation.
rum150838.jpg




After reversal at Botizu we rolled downhill through this canyon-like section.
rum150839.jpg




The highlight of railcar 003: there is only a cab at one end - that way the engineer had to spend the whole ride down in this position at least protected by a tiny windshield.
rum150840.jpg




Return to Novicior.
rum150841.jpg




Once again we had to wait until the lumber was loaded.
rum150842.jpg




Draisine repairs were necessary.
rum150843.jpg




We transported this piece - we had seen something like it along the way once before - from Bardau. It is an auxiliary bogie for draisines.
rum150844.jpg




Now we had a load in tow, sometimes the (formerly) 65 HP of the railcar had to be put to work properly even downhill. Entering Cozia.
rum150845.jpg




Our train passed the well-known icicles.
rum150846.jpg




Again we traversed our favourite bridge and met these mountainbiking kids. Even a dog used the bridge and waited cleverly until we had crossed it.
rum150847.jpg



My ID-less companion now had to depart to Bucharest to get an emergency passport at the Austrian embassy. While waiting for the overnight train he received lovely hospitality from our local guide and was invited to eat dinner with his family. That way - despite of hefty additional expense - he could at least enjoy having travelled the whole way back home by train.



February 20 2015

Next morning before we started our last photo charter day of the trip I managed to capture a few truly human scenes of proper jobs on the Vaser Valley Railway.
rum150848.jpg




As already witnessed in China or Bosnia - welding is my favourite, you just should not overdo it as photographer as there is danger of damaging your eyes.
rum150849.jpg




Teamwork pushing articulated wagons.
rum150850.jpg


Next time at first we will experience some O&K steam for a change, then not only witness the 5th but also the 6th loco under steam of the tour! :)
 




RailroadForums.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

RailroadBookstore.com - An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices! We also have a video and children's book section.

ModelRailroadBookstore.com - An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, DCC, Tinplate, Toy Trains, Price Guides and more.

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top