The Brasov touring offer counts a new attraction: ?Dracula Express? train, a project initiated by the County Council president Aristotel Cancescu, was recently inaugurated. The train, real railway jewellery, offers the tourists the possibility to admire the natural and cultural patrimony of Brasov-Zarnesti area.
Ancient Steam Engines
Dracula Express, a three reconditioned wagons conserving the interwar look, dragged by two steam engines, will regularly circulate between Brasov and Zarnesti. The train is jewellery in itself. One of the puffers is a Pacific engine, series 231, one of the few left in Europe, built in Germany at Maffai factory in 1992. The other was made at Nicolae Malaxa factory in Bucharest in 1937. Two of the wagons are first class and composed once the famous Paris-Bucharest Orient Express. The six places roomy compartments are tapestried in red and steam-warmed.
Royal Family Wagon
The third wagon was a small ball-room during the reign of King Charles II of Romania. A living-room, couchettes and even a bath plant including a bathtub with all the accessories for the personal hygiene of the Royal Family. All the wagons have been rebuilt according their initial look.
As Aristotel Cancescu stated, ?The costs of the wagon?s reconditioning was covered by the county?s budget. The project of this train is included in our plans to create a strong touring industry in Brasov, able to fructify the impressive cultural, natural and historical potential of the county.
Railway Tourism in Brasov
The second stage of the railway touring project in Brasov will be a narrow-gauge line that will connect Brasov and Bran area. Within the third one, the specialists and the authorities will analyse the opportunity to inaugurate another narrow-gauge line from Zarnesti to the mountain area Plaiul Foii. The passengers will travel free for now, every Saturday and Sunday. The tickets? price for the rest of the courses will be decided by the project?s partners.
Stoker?s Torment
Radu Bellu, a railway historian, made an accurate description of an interwar voyage in train. ?The train is conducted by experienced mechanics, the few left in this camp. A steam engine wastes about 3-4 tones of coal and almost 20 mc of water in a single voyage. The most exhausted is the stoker, who has to permanently drop coal in the fire. He also has to look through the window and announce the mechanic about all he sees on his side. But the most important is the steam engine mechanic, responsible for everything happens with the train.
Under St. George?s Protection
Ionel Dicu, director of the Railway Company Brasov, is happy to have inaugurated the train just one day before St. George, the very special religious feast for the railwaymen: ?We are proud to put into circulation this historical train, after 118 years since the inauguration of the railway Brasov-Zarnesti. This is the first line conserving the interwar look?.
