So many thanks for this video! As a bulgarian, i`m very familiar with this line, been travelled in both directions :))) It`s the only operational narrow gauge these days in Bulgaria. The others either converted to standart gauge, or closed and dismantled later. The line was projeted and designed between two world wars, mostly by bulgarian engineers, and built mostly from local workers. The original project of the line have been to begin from Septemvri and finish in Goce Delchev, a further 40 km south of Dobrinishte, where it`s over now. But, in 1944, the communists, who take the power over the country, deicides that they will finish only the section from Bansko to Dobrinishte, which was already under construction these days. And, in 1945 it`s been completed, but the further expansion to Goce Delchev have never been built ever. There`s also been a branch between Varvara and Pazardjik, which was operational till 2002 year, but It was closed and dismantled the same year. The whole Rhodore narrow gauge, itself, also been in a conversation to be closed 12-13 years ago, but the local people protested fiercly against this, and fortunately, the government deicides to keep it. It`s very beutiful in all seasons - in a white snow in winter, green and fresh in spring and summer, but my favourite is the autumn - when trees are covered in all colours - green, red, yellow, orange - it`s worth to see it! Cheers! :) PP - In Razlog and Bansko you can see the three of the biggest mountains in Bulgaria - on the North is Rila, the highest on the Balkans with 2925 m asl, on the West is Pirin, 3rd highest with 2914 m asl, on the East are Rhodopes, lowest, but with his huge area, and in the South - the valley of the Mesta river...
@kostashikolarev3940 Thank you very much for this valuable information about the line. It is a very interesting and beautiful line. I would like to travel it in the other time of the year. Greetings to Bulgaria.
This is my country, my favorite train from childhood until now, thank you for having it on your channel, be alive and healthy. Greetings from Bulgaria! :)
Thank you for giving me this wonderful view of Bulgaria. I'd like to see more rides like this in Eastern Europe, particularly Croatia, Slovenia, and Montonegro. Thanks also for identifying stations, physical characteristics, and other points of interest.
Buen video y hermoso trayecto, eso si, recomiendo reproducirlo a velocidad 1.25 e incluso 1.5, si no, es soporífero . Muchas veces me he quedado dormido frente al computador y solo me despierta la bocina del tren.
Lovely! This is hands down one of the nicest narrow gauge railways in Europe! My friend filmed the level crossings in this area; the one at 38:15 in particular is the most impressive, but also the most dangerous - the barrier takes a long time to close because the gate keeper is rather generous with the passing traffic (after all its a busy road).
@@RailRelaxation yes, it also doesnt help that theres no red lights to tell traffic to stop like they would. it would at least make people aware that the crossing intends to close. sadly Bulgarian drivers arent very disciplined with level crossings from what i've seen...
Thank you for this video and for all.infos given. Very.nice cab ride with beautiful winter sunny day at the begining and cloudier at the end. At 4.01 the mountain that see in the background are the "PIRIN MOUNTAINS" which culminate at more 2.900 mm From.RAZLOG the view must be splendid. In winter and in summer.It remains to be seen whether these mountains are considered to be part of the RODOPE, which is a mountain range between BULGARIA and GREECE.Nothing info clear from Wikipedia.
Really a great video, one of your best, thank you very much !!! May I ask whether you also took the train for your way back (which requires a lot of time) or are there any buses (presumably faster) ?
And in Bulgaria itself there are undelivered railway lines: Plovdiv-Stamboliski-Peshtera, Plovdiv-Filipovo-Panagyurishte, Plovdiv-Dolna-Mahala-Hisarya, Aldomirovtsi-Boilovci, Vidin-Koshava, Vidin-Craiova international route (Bulgaria-Romania), Ruse-Giurgiu international route (Bulgaria-Romania) the latest Two railway routes pass through the Danube River on a combined railway-auto bridge. It would be interesting to see.
We travelled several times, in both directions and in summer and winter. It was always a great experience, the quiet railway journey over the pass and the wonderful landscape. Then the wall came down and we no longer travelled to the Pirin but finally to the Alps. But nothing really seems to have changed with the railway.
..wrong recording time; the end of winter and the beginning of spring in the Balkan Mountains look ghostly...Also, on which map can you follow the names of the settlements and cities through which the train passes?
Continue filming the railway lines of the Balkan countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and the railway lines of North Macedonia, the Republic of Kosovo, Albania and Turkey, by and large, no one filmed.
It is pretty-much only this line in Bulgaria, rest of the network is standard-gauge. This gauge (760mm) was used as a narrow-gauge for various mountain, forest and military railways around Austro-Hungarian (KuK) empire/kingdom but technology has been exported also to neighbouring countries (Serbia, Bulgaria). It's also known as Bosnian gauge as biggest network of this gauge was built in Bosnia and Herzegovina (primarily to build the network as quickly as possible after KuK monarchy first occupied in 1878 and then annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908). Today many of these 760-mm railways remain in Austria and Hungary (as tourist or mountain lines), also there is a great tourist line in Serbia (Šarganska osmica) which is actually a remaining part of once big Bosnian network (of which none survive in BiH).
Because it is a mountain railway and in the mountains you need to accept narrow gauge with smaller passenger and freight capacity for the upside of being able to construct the tracks with tighter turns, than what standart gauge would allow. There was also another 760mm railway line in Northern Bulgaria, but it was dismantled. We've had more 600mm lines, mainly for military purposes during WWI and after that for limited use (industrial tracks in the Burgas salt mines, a short railway from Kazichene to the Vrana royal palace, a line near the Rila monastery, an industrial line in the Kazanlak military works etc., but all these have been dismantled, except for the salt mines line, which is used as a mere attraction for joy rides).
There were several attempts to close down and dismantle this line. There was another 760mm gauge line in Northern Bulgaria, from Cherven Bryag to Oryahovo, close to the Danube River, but this one was axed. Funny thing is that our narrow gauge locomotives were Class 75 (Henschel, built in Germany) and 76 and 77 (built under Henschel license in Romania). The 75s are still operational, as the one in the video, but the 76s and 77s were withdrawn, due to their poor quality and some of them ended up in Argentina, on the Río Turbio railway line, after being refurbished.
I apologize for the position of the sun.
You need to do it again in the spring/summer. Sun will be higher and everything around will be lush green.
@ZvonimirZelenika True. Winter cab rides are beautiful in snow😊.
Mi fa piacere.
is okz bro, no problemo :*
@@drksoft3882 😊.
So many thanks for this video! As a bulgarian, i`m very familiar with this line, been travelled in both directions :))) It`s the only operational narrow gauge these days in Bulgaria. The others either converted to standart gauge, or closed and dismantled later. The line was projeted and designed between two world wars, mostly by bulgarian engineers, and built mostly from local workers. The original project of the line have been to begin from Septemvri and finish in Goce Delchev, a further 40 km south of Dobrinishte, where it`s over now. But, in 1944, the communists, who take the power over the country, deicides that they will finish only the section from Bansko to Dobrinishte, which was already under construction these days. And, in 1945 it`s been completed, but the further expansion to Goce Delchev have never been built ever. There`s also been a branch between Varvara and Pazardjik, which was operational till 2002 year, but It was closed and dismantled the same year. The whole Rhodore narrow gauge, itself, also been in a conversation to be closed 12-13 years ago, but the local people protested fiercly against this, and fortunately, the government deicides to keep it. It`s very beutiful in all seasons - in a white snow in winter, green and fresh in spring and summer, but my favourite is the autumn - when trees are covered in all colours - green, red, yellow, orange - it`s worth to see it! Cheers! :) PP - In Razlog and Bansko you can see the three of the biggest mountains in Bulgaria - on the North is Rila, the highest on the Balkans with 2925 m asl, on the West is Pirin, 3rd highest with 2914 m asl, on the East are Rhodopes, lowest, but with his huge area, and in the South - the valley of the Mesta river...
@kostashikolarev3940 Thank you very much for this valuable information about the line. It is a very interesting and beautiful line. I would like to travel it in the other time of the year. Greetings to Bulgaria.
This is my country, my favorite train from childhood until now, thank you for having it on your channel, be alive and healthy. Greetings from Bulgaria! :)
@user-mariqnterziev I am happy for that. It is a very nice train and beautiful landscape. Greetings to Bulgaria.
@@RailRelaxation Thanks for always nice trips :)
@user-mariqnterziev You are welcome.
Thank you very much for the work you have done to show the beauty of the Rhodope!
@user-cb9hz4pj3n It was my pleasure.
This is one of the most wonderful channels in RUclips 🎉
@clips1199 I am honoured. Thank you.
This is great! I absolutely love exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. It's so refreshing to discover places that are unique and unconventional.
@RunVirtual5 I am glad that you liked it.
Yet another nice, scenic, interesting, fun ride! Video quality, as always, excellent! Thanks so much for sharing. [Greetings from Tucson]
Thank you too! Greetings to Tuscon from Slovenia.
You really have an excellent channel; I only discovered it fairly recently, but now I am here.
@pgchase4578043026 Thank you for the compliment.
Yes...my country i travel there several times it's so beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤❤
@user-tc5po1lk2j Great. Very beautiful line.
Greetings, RailJet! Quite amazing video one more time! Good professional job! All the best!
@user-bm6vn5vw3d Thank you very much! All the best to you too!
Ну наконец-то болгарские жд, спасибо
You are welcome. I am glad you liked it.
Thank you for giving me this wonderful view of Bulgaria. I'd like to see more rides like this in Eastern Europe, particularly Croatia, Slovenia, and Montonegro. Thanks also for identifying stations, physical characteristics, and other points of interest.
You are very welcome. I am glad to hear that you liked the video. You can find various videos from Slovenia and Croatia on the channel.
Thank you.@@RailRelaxation
Grazie per aver pubblicato questa linea; bella, complimenti!
Buona giornata.
Ciao.
@DavideZerillo Grazie. Buona giornata!
@@RailRelaxation Di niente, figurati!
Beautiful rail line.
@kks777 Indeed!
Buen video y hermoso trayecto, eso si, recomiendo reproducirlo a velocidad 1.25 e incluso 1.5, si no, es soporífero . Muchas veces me he quedado dormido frente al computador y solo me despierta la bocina del tren.
@juanvidelaramos9428 It is not one of the fastest trains, I know. But for the narrow gauge it is good one.
Outstanding, I hope that in this year I take some pictures on this line. 👏
@cupik Thank you. I hope you will get to take good ones.
The sunset of the last hour👌
@VITORB82 Yes, beautiful.
Lovely! This is hands down one of the nicest narrow gauge railways in Europe!
My friend filmed the level crossings in this area; the one at 38:15 in particular is the most impressive, but also the most dangerous - the barrier takes a long time to close because the gate keeper is rather generous with the passing traffic (after all its a busy road).
@CFRTrainSpotter I can imagine that can be dangerous. And some drivers don't have any idea that the train can not stop fast,.
@@RailRelaxation yes, it also doesnt help that theres no red lights to tell traffic to stop like they would. it would at least make people aware that the crossing intends to close.
sadly Bulgarian drivers arent very disciplined with level crossings from what i've seen...
Hi Raíl Relaxation from México. Like # 1.
@alvaro1967mexico hello. greetings to Mexico!
Thanks Raíl....
Good Video, Thank you !! From Massachusetts, U.S.A.
@billy3424 Thanks for watching! Greetings to Massachusetts!
Sehr interessant diese Strecke einmal aus der Lokführerperspektive zu sehen
@thomas99716 Danke.
Thank you for this video and for all.infos given. Very.nice cab ride with beautiful winter sunny day at the begining and cloudier at the end. At 4.01 the mountain that see in the background are the "PIRIN MOUNTAINS" which culminate at more 2.900 mm From.RAZLOG the view must be splendid. In winter and in summer.It remains to be seen whether these mountains are considered to be part of the RODOPE, which is a mountain range between BULGARIA and GREECE.Nothing info clear from Wikipedia.
@javierguidounicaud6621 I heard that in the summer and in the autumn the line is astonishing. Will try to make it again...
Bulgaria! Nice video...... finallyyy u went into Rila Mountains..... a Nice trip... i will watch
@wladislaw79 Hope you will enjoy it!
For an afternoon run with winter sun snow and dry areas looked good . Speed is about right for this guage of railway
@garygeorge7035 I will try to film it again in spring or in the summer, I guess the views are quite different in different seasons.
불가리아 열차도있군요.
재미있게 잘봤습니다. 유럽열차 랜선영상은 보면 즐겁고 편안합니다. ❤
@isis7989 I am glad that you like them.
Чудові краєвиди, чудова подорож. Дякую за відео! Привіт з України.
@user-do3mc9wo5j Thank you. Greetings to Ukraine.
우크라이나의 응원과 승리를 기원합니다.
Дякую за підтримку
Estou no Brasil viajando de trem na Bulgária. Maravilhoso.
@elisacastro7677 😀
Nice video, greetings from Indonesia
@YogieAnanda-sw1is Thanks for visiting. Greetings to Indonesia.
Nice trip. There are also a few narrow gauge railroads in the Baltic states...
@barefram Thanks for the info. Will check them out.
Nice video
@adamblunsdon7784 Thanks.
The best you tuber ever
@JoshHodginsTrains Thank you.
@@RailRelaxation 😅😅😅😅
Thank you. I've been here before.
@1999Leather Great! It is very beautiful.
Really a great video, one of your best, thank you very much !!!
May I ask whether you also took the train for your way back (which requires a lot of time) or are there any buses (presumably faster) ?
@stephan6998 Thank you. I heard that there is a bus on the way back, but I went with a train, so can't tell you for sure about the bus.
Thanks!
Thank you for your support.
Ein gutes video der strecke
@hansrichardnohrer2834 Danke.
Bulgaria ❤
@user-mb1vs9rm1x 😊.
And in Bulgaria itself there are undelivered railway lines: Plovdiv-Stamboliski-Peshtera, Plovdiv-Filipovo-Panagyurishte, Plovdiv-Dolna-Mahala-Hisarya, Aldomirovtsi-Boilovci, Vidin-Koshava, Vidin-Craiova international route (Bulgaria-Romania), Ruse-Giurgiu international route (Bulgaria-Romania) the latest Two railway routes pass through the Danube River on a combined railway-auto bridge. It would be interesting to see.
@user-sj3xz6vx3h Thank you for the suggestions.
So nice videos
@pranowobaris94 Thanks.
@@RailRelaxation very good
Feliz dia del amor para todos en jeneral " wuao " me encanta biajar en tren jajajaja Gŕacias ❤un infinito abraso con exelentes bendiciones " ❤😊
@MiriamLiceaMendez-sv5xc ☺
@@RailRelaxation Gŕacias un placer Compartir con tigo éste hermoso recorrido Féliz día dél amor y lá amistad
❤ good اللهم صل على محمد وال محمد ❤
Thank you.
Türkiye'ye de bekleriz. Harika bir video ❤
@besiryavuz Thank you.
MEGA LIKE BRO ;)
@drksoft3882 Thanks.
Goooood اللهم صل على محمد وال محمد
@castr-san1046 😊
3:38:08
Those puppies....😫😰😭
@99elasomon78 They are ok. On the way back, they were all still there, around the line. Amazing. I hope they are still all around until today.
اللهم صل على محمد وال محمد goooood
The first time I travelled with them was in 1972
@peterhempel3218 Nice. It is the same or there are some changes?
We travelled several times, in both directions and in summer and winter. It was always a great experience, the quiet railway journey over the pass and the wonderful landscape. Then the wall came down and we no longer travelled to the Pirin but finally to the Alps. But nothing really seems to have changed with the railway.
@@peterhempel3218 I want to do that journey again in the summer or in the autumn...
Lijepo je vidjeti druge željeznice iz drugih zemalja
@user-er2kr3dm8m Hvala.
👌🇧🇬✌️
@ivanarnaudov294 Thanks.
What country is this locomotive 🚂 made
@JoshHodginsBwfc It was built by the German company Henschel & Sohn of Kassel.
@@RailRelaxation great 👍 👌 so interesting am into my trains
Turkey can now be added to the list
@dogansogutlu2448 😀
I didn't know Bulgaria has narrow gauge
@interceptor7905 There are just a few of them, the others are standard gauge.
1000 mm ?
@ravaelrhema7006 It is 760 mm.
..wrong recording time; the end of winter and the beginning of spring in the Balkan Mountains look ghostly...Also, on which map can you follow the names of the settlements and cities through which the train passes?
@dragicevicgeorges-dorde8225 You can follow the line on Google map.
Continue filming the railway lines of the Balkan countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and the railway lines of North Macedonia, the Republic of Kosovo, Albania and Turkey, by and large, no one filmed.
@user-sj3xz6vx3h Thank you for the tip.
And now for something completely different 🤔
@ZvonimirZelenika It was the first time I have been to Bulgaria, very interesting experience and very beautiful railway line.
Why does Bulgaria use such a narrow gauge width (760 mm)?
It is pretty-much only this line in Bulgaria, rest of the network is standard-gauge. This gauge (760mm) was used as a narrow-gauge for various mountain, forest and military railways around Austro-Hungarian (KuK) empire/kingdom but technology has been exported also to neighbouring countries (Serbia, Bulgaria). It's also known as Bosnian gauge as biggest network of this gauge was built in Bosnia and Herzegovina (primarily to build the network as quickly as possible after KuK monarchy first occupied in 1878 and then annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908). Today many of these 760-mm railways remain in Austria and Hungary (as tourist or mountain lines), also there is a great tourist line in Serbia (Šarganska osmica) which is actually a remaining part of once big Bosnian network (of which none survive in BiH).
Because it is a mountain railway and in the mountains you need to accept narrow gauge with smaller passenger and freight capacity for the upside of being able to construct the tracks with tighter turns, than what standart gauge would allow. There was also another 760mm railway line in Northern Bulgaria, but it was dismantled. We've had more 600mm lines, mainly for military purposes during WWI and after that for limited use (industrial tracks in the Burgas salt mines, a short railway from Kazichene to the Vrana royal palace, a line near the Rila monastery, an industrial line in the Kazanlak military works etc., but all these have been dismantled, except for the salt mines line, which is used as a mere attraction for joy rides).
🚅📺☺🍹
@user-jw6ps2lf9o ☺
definitely not where all the EU money went... even though it clearly should... looking at the pristine road next to the tracks... what a tragedy
There were several attempts to close down and dismantle this line. There was another 760mm gauge line in Northern Bulgaria, from Cherven Bryag to Oryahovo, close to the Danube River, but this one was axed. Funny thing is that our narrow gauge locomotives were Class 75 (Henschel, built in Germany) and 76 and 77 (built under Henschel license in Romania). The 75s are still operational, as the one in the video, but the 76s and 77s were withdrawn, due to their poor quality and some of them ended up in Argentina, on the Río Turbio railway line, after being refurbished.
Get some new trains
@TomTom-dc1gg I will...
👍👍👍❤🤍💚
@TamasKiss-bv9hz Thanks.