Utisci sa Jugoslovenskih zeleznica uzanog koloseka - 3

The spectacular descent from the summit at 360m down to sea level at Dubrovnik included spiral tunnels and horseshoe curves.  The final section being alongside this long inlet of the Adriatic. This is a view looking back towards the summit.  The railcar is a four car set of class 802 built in Yugoslavia and quite fast and comfortable.  Following closure of the narrow gauge lines these units were sold to Portugal.  They now operate as 3 car sets and have been re-engined by Volvo.  Efforts are now being made to repatriate one of the spare trailer cars.

The locomotive shed at Dubrovnik was in an idyllic position on the shore of the Adriatic and this is a view from a train nearing the terminus.  Quite large ocean going ships visited Dubrovnik at this time but most of these have now been diverted to the new port of Ploce.  The coastal passenger ships which run all the way north to Rijeka and Venice still use the port on a regular basis.

Another view showing the two road engine shed with six Class 83 in attendance, three of which are stored.  A further two of the class were inside the shed building.  Photography was difficult as along with most other railway installations in Yugoslavia the shed had its own contingent of guards.  It was in fact illegal to photograph trains.  The area alongside the shed was a popular bathing beach for locals - note the figures on the flat roof in the middle left of the photo.  The then new coastal highway to Split can be seen across the inlet.

Two Class 83's are seen at the entrance to the shed in Dubrovnik.  The cranes which were used to import one of the staple freight traffics - bauxite - can be seen in the background.  On the hillside above can be seen the scar of the coastal road which had recently opened - this section being the Dubrovnik bypass.  The road runs all the way down the Adriatic coast and has done wonders for the tourist trade.  The passenger terminus was in the distance.

The terminus, in the suburb of Gruz, was about 2 Km from the old city and connection was made using an extremely rickety street tramway which closed a few years after the railway.

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