Slovenian Railway Museum

The Slovenian Railway Museum, (Slovenian:Železniški muzej), in Ljubljana, Slovenia
national museum for Slovenia's railway history.

The Slovenian Railway Museum is tasked with acquiring, preserving and supplying knowledge about Slovenian railway history on the basis of the national collection.The museum is owned by Holding Slovenske železnice, d.o.o.

It is located close to the Ljubljana Railway station.

HISTORY

The notion of documenting the history of Slovene railwayswas born in the 1960s when it was becoming clear that theera of the steam locomotive was drawing to a close.If this was late in the day, it was because a decision had beenmade after WW2 to make Belgrade the base for railway museumactivities for the whole Yugoslavia, a choice that led later to the establishment of the Belgrade Railway Museum.

When the railwayman and woman of Slovenia elected toestablish a museum of their own, they chose for its locationthe former locomotive shed at Ljubljana Siska.In its formative years, historic vehicles were temporarily displayed only in the 'roundhouse',a semicircular shed forming the centrepiece of the depot.This shed itself had been listed as part of the cultural heritage.

In 1996, the year that marked the 150th anniversary of the advent of railways i Slovenia, the Museum of the Slovenian Railwayspresented to the public a permanent display of its most importantrailway artefacts. This was housed in the former railway training school in Kurilniska Street, close by the main site of the museum.The building, however, was old and in a ruinous state. With itsdemolition in 2002, the display had to be closed to the public forthe duration.

It reopened on a newly acuired site next to the roundhouse in 2004.As before, the display introduces visitors to the main spheres ofrailway activity. Aided by its maps and illustrations, vistors cantrace the whole development of Slovenia's railway network.

COMMUNICATIONS

Sound, sight and written communication systems played key roles in ensuring the safe operation of trains between stations. The newly invented electric telegraph was swiftly introduced to the railways. In 1876, the telephone was added.Later teleprinter took place of the telegraph. In 1963, the radio-telegraph as introduced to Slovenian railways as its operations centres were equippedwith the required transmitters and receivers.

The need for accurate timing presented itself only with the beginning of the railways in order to respond to the demand for regular and punctual traffic.The clocks on the posts along the railway line were regulated each day at noon to the signal given by the telegraph. On stations there is a main clock which controls the rest of the clocks by means of electicity so they all show exactly the same time.

ROLLING STOCK

The most prominent element of the railway is its rolling stock, especially its locomotives. Steam locomotives, which made the development of railwayspossible, first appeared in the early years of the 19th century. They reigned supreme for more than 150 years. Throughout this time, they were continually developed and improved. The extensive museum collection includesmore than sixty locomotives and fifty other vehicles. Only the most important are on dispay.

The oldest locomotive is the former Southern Railway No. 29.718, built in 1861.Keeping her close company is the diminutive No. 162-001. Her huge chimney earnedher the nickname 'the Kamnic Cornet'. Next is the most eminent of the engines,express locomotive No. 03-002, designed in 1910 particulary for the Ljubljana-Trieste line. Nearby is mighty No. 06-018 of 1930, also designed especially for lines in Slovenia. The smallest of all is No. K3, a little gem built in 1892 especially for the narrow gauge Poljcane-Konjice Line

IGNALLING AND SEFETY EQUIPMENT

Signalling apparatus and all the safety equipment associated with it allows rail travel to be speedy and safe. It protects trains whenthey are stationary and in motion. It ensures that points and signals are correctly set for their passage.

Around 1900, electromechanical signalling and safty equipment wasintroduced. It has two essential controls. First is the lever frame at its base. This houses the levers used to change the positions of the points and signals.Second, and above the lever frame, are the indicator panels.These hold the electric block repeaters that maintain communication with themain control frame in the stationmaster's office, from which route orders fortrains are despatched. The stationmaster's and the signalmen's apparatus is interlocked to ensure that mistakes cannot occur.

TATION MASTER'S OFFICE

The station master's office is a key part of the railway station. It is the place where the traffic officer, the station 'chief', sees that all that is required to ensure the safe and regular operation of the trains is carried out. Using his sigalling equipment, the traffic officer transmits order to his more remote signalmen about how the points and signals are to be set. In the past, the connections to adjoiningstations needed to operate the trains were by telegraph. With the passage of time, the telephone and other modern telecommunication devices were introduced to assist him. On top of all this, he also saw to the ticket sales.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NETWORK CONSTRUCTING AND MAINTAINING THE PERMANENT WAY

The development of Slovenia's railway network is depicted with seven maps, each relating relating to a ditinctive era. Historic boundary stones, engraved with the indiviual railway companies, bear witness in the dispay to each period. In their time,they marked the ownership of the land where the track was laid.

Railway vehicles characteristically operate on special tracks, known as the'permanent way'. Such tracks make it possible, for some effort, to transport loads several times heavier than normal roads would allow. Over time, callsfor ever-heavier vehicles and greateer speed demanded the developement of stronger track. This involved changes in the size of the rails and in the ways in with they were secured, and in the sleepers, where wood gave way in some places to steel and, finally, concrete.

The gangs that maintained the permanet way used a range of tool and vehicles.The small trolleys the employed to maintain the track and carry theirequipment and material were allowed to travel on the line only by special arrangement.

UNIFORMS

Uniforms,'garments of honour',were introduced in the early daysof the railways so the railway employees could be destinguishedfrom passengers. They differed from company to company. In Slovenia, until 1952, the also indicated employees' rank.Until 1927, on special occasions, higher-ranking officials worefull-dress uniforms.

Railwaymen were always provided with the smaller items ofequipment needed for their work. There varied little over the years.

ee also

*List of transport museums

References

*"Information displayed in the museum"