Małym Wołowcem Tunnel
| Tunel pod Małym Wołowcem | |
|---|---|
Northern portals of the tunnel | |
Interactive map of Tunel pod Małym Wołowcem | |
| Overview | |
| Other name | Ochsenkopftunnel (german) |
| Line | Kłodzko Główne–Wałbrzych Główny railway |
| Location | Wałbrzych / Jedlina-Zdrój, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland |
| Status | Active (one bore in railway use; the older bore is disused)[1] |
| Crosses | Mały Wołowiec, Wałbrzyskie Mountains |
| Start | Wałbrzych side |
| End | Jedlina-Zdrój side |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 15 October 1880 (first bore); 1912 (second bore)[2][3] |
| Owner | PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe |
| Operator | PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe |
| Traffic | Railway |
| Character | Two parallel single-track bores |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1,603 m (5,259 ft) (active bore)[3] |
The Tunel pod Małym Wołowcem (Tunel pod Małym Wołowcem) is a railway tunnel under the Mały Wołowiec mountain in the Wałbrzyskie Mountains of south-western Poland, between Wałbrzych and Jedlina-Zdrój. It carries the Kłodzko Główne–Wałbrzych Główny railway and is widely described as the longest rock railway tunnel in Poland.[3][1]
The tunnel complex consists of two parallel bores. The first bore was constructed during the building of the Wałbrzych–Kłodzko railway line in the late 19th century, while the second was added during the early 20th-century upgrade of the route to double track.[2][4]
Description
The tunnels pass beneath Mały Wołowiec, a mountain in the south-eastern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains. The active bore has a length of 1,603 m (5,259 ft) according to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.[3] Technical literature and historical railway documentation give a length of approximately 1,605 m (5,266 ft) for the newer bore.[4]
Both bores were originally built for single-track railway operation and are lined primarily with masonry made of stone and brick. Later repairs introduced reinforced concrete elements in some sections.[1]
During the period of steam locomotive operation, cross passages and a ventilation shaft were constructed between the tunnels to improve ventilation and operational safety.[1]
History
Construction of the Wałbrzych–Kłodzko railway line began in 1874 as part of the expansion of railway infrastructure in the Prussian province of Silesia.[2] The difficult mountainous terrain required several major engineering works, including tunnels beneath Świerkowa Kopa, Sajdak and Mały Wołowiec.[2]
The original tunnel under Mały Wołowiec was completed in 1880 and opened together with the railway line on 15 October that year.[2][1]
Increasing railway traffic at the beginning of the 20th century led to the expansion of the route to double track. Between 1908 and 1913 a second tunnel bore was excavated parallel to the original one. The portal of the newer bore bears an inscription with the dates “1909–1911”, while railway documentation generally states that the upgraded line entered service in 1912.[4][3]
In the late 20th century, declining traffic on the Wałbrzych–Jedlina section led to the removal of one of the tracks. The older tunnel bore was taken out of service and its rails were removed, while the newer bore remained operational.[1]
Conservation and repairs
The tunnel forms part of a historic railway landscape along the Wałbrzych–Kłodzko line, which has been described by the National Heritage Institute as an important example of railway engineering heritage in Poland.[2]
In 2019 and 2020, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe carried out renovation works in the active bore. These works included strengthening the lining, cleaning and repairing brickwork, restoring drainage systems and clearing vegetation above the tunnel.[3]
Gallery
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Connecting passage between the two bores
-
The twin tunnel portals under Mały Wołowiec
-
View inside the Ochsenkopftunnel
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Preidl, Wojciech (2005). "Koncepcja adaptacji tunelu kolejowego pod Małym Wołowcem do celów turystycznych". Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Śląskiej. Seria Górnictwo (in Polish) (269). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "dworzec kolejowy Jedlina Górna" (in Polish). Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "Pociągi Wałbrzych – Kłodzko w tunelu pod Małym Wołowcem" (in Polish). PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Dominas, Przemysław (2020). "Tunele kolejowe Dolnego Śląska na tle polityki transportowej i techniki drążenia podziemnych obiektów komunikacyjnych państwa pruskiego 1842–1945" (PDF) (in Polish). Instytut Pamięci Narodowej. Retrieved 8 March 2026.