The Jablonec narrow-gauge railway in the news – a discussion

In 1926, the Jablonec narrow-gauge railway underwent a major modernisation. To mark its 100th anniversary, the information centre, under the auspices of Kultura Jablonec and in collaboration with the Boveraclub, has prepared a commemorative programme full of interesting facts and a screening of historical photographs. Tomáš Krebs and Viktor Liška, who have dedicated decades to preserving the legacy of the Jablonec narrow-gauge railway, will share their memories of it. The topics of the discussion will be as follows:

Major modernisation in 1926

Exactly 100 years ago, the Jablonec narrow-gauge railway underwent a significant transformation. With financial support from the town, the line from Rychnov to Janov underwent a complete reconstruction. Modifications to the points and a reduction in the number of stops shortened journey times and intervals — the journey from Rychnov to Janov took just 64 minutes instead of 71. On 28 September 1926, ten new trams, state-of-the-art for their time, took to the streets. At the same time, construction began on a new heavy maintenance hall. Thanks to this expansion, it became possible to house virtually the entire fleet, including goods trailers, under one roof.

The story and tribute in detail

A mural has recently been created on the building of the former Jablonec tram depot. It pays tribute to a place that was part of Jablonec’s transport and everyday life for decades. The historic tram depicted in the mural passes through a glass portal, linking Jablonec’s past with its present. Beads, pearls and light allude to the tradition of glass and costume jewellery — to a town that has turned a tiny detail into world-class beauty. Oskar stands at the ‘control levers’. The figure pays tribute to Oskar Hausmann, the first employee of the Jablonec Electric Tramways and a key figure in local transport. He thus symbolically returns to the front of the tram as an honorary guide, carrying the city’s story forward.

The talk lasts 120 minutes.

Organised by the Jablonec Tourist Information Centre (Kultura Jablonec, p. o.) and Boveraclub.