Historic cogwheel locomotives return to Jizera Mountains reviving part of an old Austro-Prussian route from 1902
After an extensive reconstruction, historic cogwheel locomotives returned to the Tanvald–Kořenov–Harrachov line this Saturday. The renewal of the only remaining cog railway line in the Czech Republic attracted hundreds of railway enthusiasts.
The railway line Tanvald - Kořenov –Harrachov is the steepest rail route in the Czech Republic and one of the last cog railways still operating in Europe. The historic railway line is part of a much longer Austro-Prussian route between Tanvald and Hirschberg established in 1902.
The surviving stretch of the route requires a special track – along certain sections cog racks between the rails help locomotives conquer a steep incline with the train going up 235 metres over just seven kilometres.
Czech Railways planned to halt passenger service along the line due to high operating losses and the deterioration of the “cog” rail tracks, which had reached a critical state, but a wave of public protests saved the historic railway.
The extensive reconstruction involved a complete overhaul of the track and cost nearly half a billion crowns, with the EU contributing 292 million crowns to the project.
This weekend the historic cogwheel locomotives of the T 426.0 series, nicknamed Rakušanky (“Austrian Ladies”), returned to the line for the first time in two years. The first train with four coaches –each accommodating 80 passengers – was packed with Czech and Polish train enthusiasts eager to savior the experience.
“We’ve got a three-and-a-half-year-old grandson who is crazy about trains, so of course we couldn’t miss this!” said one of the passengers.
And it was not just train enthusiasts who were excited. Petr Prokeš, head of the Zubačka (Cog Railway) Association, who was also on board, said it was a big day for Tanvald rail employees who feared the historic track might not be saved.
“We’re incredibly glad the reconstruction finally happened. A lot of cog railways around the world disappeared when the time came to reconstruct them – it was considered too expensive and that was the end of the road for them. So we’re thrilled that the Tanvald–Kořenov line had a different fate. There are new rails, new cog teeth, and in Dolní Polubné we even have three brand-new cog turnouts,” Prokeš explained.
One of the carriages in the first festive “comeback” ride featured a Halloween-themed surprise for passengers, and the Kořenov station hosted a special program to mark the occasion.
A unique technical and cultural monument
The Tanvald–Kořenov–Harrachov line is the only cog railway in the Czech Republic and represents a singular cultural and technical heritage. Using the Abt rack system, the train climbs a height of 235 metres over just seven kilometres.
Once, trains on the Tanvald–Kořenov–Szklarska Poręba line overcame hundreds of metres in elevation, relying on the cog system on the steepest stretches. It formed part of a 59-kilometre Austro-Prussian route between Tanvald and Hirschberg (now Jelenia Góra, Poland). From Harrachov, the route continues 16 kilometres across the border to Szklarska Poręba.
Its ingenious engineering and rich history have made it a beloved destination for railway enthusiasts and admirers of industrial heritage from across Europe. In 1992, the Czech Ministry of Culture officially declared the Tanvald–Kořenov section a protected cultural monument.
Today, 12 kilometres of the original line—from Tanvald to Harrachov—remain in operation. Locals affectionately call it the Kořenov Cog Railway or simply the Polubenka. The Tanvald–Harrachov railway boasts many impressive engineering works, including five tunnels, the longest stretching 940 metres.
From the heritage-protected Kořenov station (701 m a.s.l.), the line continues in a graceful horseshoe curve over a 26-metre-high bridge spanning the Jizera River, crossing from the Jizera Mountains into the Krkonoše range.
Beyond the present terminus at Harrachov–Mýtiny (740 m a.s.l.), the now-disused track climbs over the Novosvětský Pass (885 m a.s.l.) for another 16 kilometres to Szklarska Poręba, the Polish spa and mountain resort, from which Polish State Railways run electric trains a further 32 kilometres to Jelenia Góra.
The Kořenov Cog Railway Museum
Visitors can explore the Cog Railway Museum right at Kořenov station, open all-year-round, and even tour the Kořenov engine shed with a guide.
A glimpse into the past
The legendary cog railway has been serving passengers since 1902. The line required five tunnels, numerous rock cuttings, and several bridges. It was built by the Liberec–Jablonec Railway Company to link northern Bohemia with Lower Silesia, carrying mainly raw materials to the industrial region. From Kořenov, the line continued to Jelenia Góra (then Hirschberg), thus connecting Austro-Hungarian and Prussian rail networks.
For decades, cross-border traffic flourished. The line was electrified up to Kořenov, with trains that were considered remarkably modern for their time. In its heyday, the direct “Rübezahl” express ran from Kořenov all the way to Wrocław, Poland. Cross-border service ceased after the Second World War.
A wartime anecdote
Local lore still recalls a story from the war’s end: after 1945, a group of Soviet soldiers in Kořenov boarded a train, insisting they would ride down to Tanvald. Locals warned them about the steep descent, but the soldiers brushed it off—“We have bigger hills in Russia,” they said. Moments later, they sped down the gradient, derailed at the first curve, and learned the hard way that the Czech mountains, too, demand respect.
