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Last Saturday (12.04.2025) on the occasion of Lazarov Day (a public holiday, 1 week before Easter), BDZ - Bulgarian State Railways organized an attraction trip with the oldest steam locomotive in operation at the moment - 26.26, manufactured in the distant 1908 by "Henschel & Sohn" - Kassel. Back in the late 70s, the machine was declared a museum exhibit, but was restored for operation only in the late 80s. In the 90s, it was abandoned and did not operate for a long time. After a long period of restoration in 2022, , it was put back into operation. Since then, it has only served a few attraction trains to Bankya. Unfortunately, there are almost no wagons from its era left, and the few that are available are in a tragic condition. Personally, for me, this locomotive does not fit in at all with any of the BDZ rolling stock at the moment. Even the wagons of the Corona Express (the royal wagons) are untypically larger for it. I really hope that in the future, several two-axle wagons will be found which will fit better to this wonderful machine!

Video of the train is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgDupfQZOmo

46.03 - the steam monster of BDZ is under steam again! Granny Bear (Baba Metsa in Bulgarian) has been recently awaken from a long winter sleep and is under steam again after more than 5 years of standstill due to delayed overhaul of the boiler tubes. Last weekend the locomotive served two Christmas trains from Sofia to two different destinations - Pernik and Bankya. Last year the same Christmas trains were hauled by the Swiss loco 01.23, but now the Granny Bear take them. On the photo the locomotive is departing the train from Pernik station on 14 December 2024. On the next day was the trip to Bankya.

More to see in the video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tavr-ga2100&t

Steam locomotive 03.12 of BDZ-PP is serving special train due to the celebration of the Day of Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia.

A trainspotting video of the train is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOohf68vrtc

It's been a while since class 32 EMU of BDZ was last seen at this station! Before 15 years these Soviet EMU's are commonly seen here on the regional trains, but since 2008-2009 are replaced by the modern Siemens Desiro. Earlier this year a group of railway enthusiasts booked a charter train on unusual route with this Mohican! They are a rare sight in Sofia, so it was a pleasure to make a journey with it. On the photo we had a short photostop at Vladaya station. If you are interested in the cab ride video, you can enjoy the two parts of our journey here:
Part 1:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWVJx8XMm7M&t
Part 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzBPE-tlh9Y&lc
And the trainspotting video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VzxpLKXUz8&t

BDZ steam loco 01.23 with a special train Mezdra - Sofia captured on unusual place - between the stations of Kurilo and Svetovrachane. Due to the reconstruction of Sofia Central Station the trains in northern directions can enter the station only from east. That's why some trains are diverted through Kazichene, Yana and Svetovrachane.

Video of this beautiful steam locomotive made in 1935 is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn40HibyL00&t

BDZ' Christmas train is climbing towards Vladaya station. Ahead of the train is the classic steam locomotive 01.23 made in 1935 in Wintertur, Switzerland. This year there was a bit of snow, so in these conditions the train looks a bit more Chrismas, despite the awful coaches. Full video of the train is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LASPMd50fzQ&t

Steam loco 16.27 of BDZ-PP with special train 4501 Gorna Oryahovitsa - Tryavna on September 23 2023.

A trainspotting video is available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2rWTM0Ih6E

Steam loco 01.23 of BDZ-PP with special train 2502 (Mezdra - Sofia) captured at Bov station in the Iskar river gorge.

A trainspotting video is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2rWTM0Ih6E

Steam locomotive 16.27 (type DR 42) of BDZ leads special train 4691 (Gorna Oryahovitsa - Plachkovtsi) through the ex-station Sokolovo on the Balkan crossing railway line (#4).

A trainspotting video of the train, captured at different locations is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSfT1SzPTWs

For the 100th anniversary from the building of the narrow gauge railway in the Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria, BDZ-PP (the state operator) organized several attraction trains with steam locomotive 609.76 (the only one restored steam locomotive for 760 mm). This weekend there were the first two trips from Septemvri to Velingrad. On the 19th and 20th of June there will be another attraction trip with the steam locomotive, again from September to Velingrad.
On the photo 609.76 is climbing with yesterday's train towards Kostandovo station.

Steam locomotive 01.23 is hauling a special train in the Iskar gorge. Thompson, 25.10.2019

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=moTHwvDE-KQ&t

That is a very rare sight, to see the special retro train "Corona Express" with diesel locomotive class 07 of BDZ. Usually the train is hauled by the preserved steam locomotives of BDZ, but after the trip on the Cross-Balkan railway with steam engine 16.27, the Ludmilla was attached to the train and take it towards the Black sea coast. Unfortunately the locomotive has broke down at Druzhba station and the trip of the railway fans has been ended there.

On the photo the train is leaving the town of Sliven, on situated on the Sub-Balkan railway line from Sofia to Burgas.

Here you can find also a video of the train:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lf29mgrMxg

BDZ steam locomotive 16.27 (BR 42) with attraction train 4691 near Borushtitsa halt.

And some video of the train:
youtu.be/vKcE0vgLVek

We haven't seen from a while steam trains in Bulgaria, but for today the State railway company decide to organize steam trips for this weekend to the small town of Bankya, located near Sofia. The locomotive - of course, 46.03 "The Mother Bear" (or Granny Bear - Baba Metsa in Bulgarian).
On the photo the train is passing near Bozhurishte district.

Here you can find a video of the passing train:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAdQJhB52QE

BDZ Steam locomotive 16.27 (type BR 42, 1-5-0) with attraction train near Popovo, Northern Bulgaria.

Here is also a short video with the steam train, captured at different locations:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMhnLygTf5s

BDZ Steam locomotive 46.03 with the special train "Balkan Express" on it's way to Gyueshevo - the highest railway station on a standard gauge in Bulgaria.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrFTXdNhsV4 - video of the IGE's special train.

Steam locomotive 05.01 with attraction train Sofia - Plovdiv - Hisarya near the town of Ihtiman.

Steam loco 16.27 at full steam through Tsareva livada station. A special train was organized from Gorna Oryahovitsa to Tryavna for the Day of the Valor and the Bulgarian Army by the State railway company. Unfortunately the weather was not so good, but still the perfect looking loco 16.27 definitely compensate the rainy day.

It's not a often view to see the retro coaches with electric locomotive ahead. Usually they are used for attraction trips with steam locomotives. But in this case a group of french tourists use them just to travel the distance from Sofia to Plovdiv. On the photo the shiny locomotive 44 144 is passing through Pobit kamak stop with the special train.

The biggest tank steam locomotive in Europe - 46.03 ahead of a charter freight train at Priboy stop.