Borzhava narrow-gauge railway: existence on the brink of possible (PHOTOS)

The well-known in Ukraine and abroad Borzhava narrow-gauge railway, like the British Queen, has two birthdays: one is celebrated on August 5 – the unofficial holiday of the railway, the other one is on December 23 (1908), when the Borzhava railway was officially put into operation.

But whatever it may be, this year it turns 110 years old, and this is a fairly respectable anniversary for the Antsya Kushnitska. But will this birthday be the last one?

The unique Borzhava narrow-gauge railway has been operated in Vynogradiv and Irshava districts for more than a decade. In late XIX – early XX centuries, it was used to transport timber from Carpathian forests to European woodworking enterprises.

Рішення про будівництво місцевої 

The decision to build the local narrow-gauge railway was made on February 29, 1904 in the city of Mukachevo, at the constituent assembly, and the process was managed by the Borzhava valley railroad joint-stock company. By the order of the Minister of Trade No. 41116 / III, dated May 23, 1907, the construction was officially commenced.   

Time has changed, and today there are just a few narrow-gauge railways in Ukraine.  They face many problems, such as: lack of extensive commercial and marketing work to promote their tourism opportunities; unsatisfactory technical condition; lack of funding.

But tourists are interested in it, and the routes have long been established.

Making a trip on the narrow-gauge railroad, guests can visit Ferenc II Rakoczi’s wine cellar and learn about the best traditions of barrel-making (the village of Shalanky, Vynogradiv district), see the largest buffalo farm in Ukraine (the village of Oleshnyk, Vynogradiv district).

And at the Khmilnyk hub station (Irshava district), they can walk to the railway bridge over the Borzhava river and see the system of traffic control. 

And this is not even the entire list, you can learn many more interesting things about the narrow-gauge and the period when it was laid.

The events to promote the tourist opportunities of the railway are held regularly. A wine tour was organized within the framework of the festival of winegrowers and winemakers "Ugocsa Vine" (Vynogradiv), berry tour (station Khmilnyk), even St. Nicholas made a trip, and now the public organization "Borzhava initiative" is also holding a bicycle tour in its honor.

But will it have opportunities for existence and development?! Hopefully, the question is rhetorical, and while there is no real manager, who would take care of it as owner, it will continue to exist only with the support of activists.