A new documentary film will bring the history of the cogwheel railway closer

A short documentary film was created from more than 300 rare historical photos, which will present the history of the famous cog railway. It will be screened in the Zubačka museum at the train station in Tisovec. The film will bring not only the history closer, but together with other attractions will also make the passengers of the historical experience trains, which for the fourth season run on the rails of the Banská Bystrica Region, including those on Gemer, more enjoyable.

The Cogwheel Railway Museum in Tisovec presented a new documentary video that presents the rich history and important milestones of this railway line.

Thanks to the revival of historical photos, the video offers a lot of interesting information about this unique track, which has been registered as a National Cultural Monument since 2008. It is unique primarily due to the cog railway, which on its route overcomes up to a 50.2 ‰ ascent to the Zbojská mountain pass, located at an altitude of 725 m above sea level.

At the time of construction, it reflected on the needs of the developing mining and iron industry and on the need to transport excavated material to the large iron works in Horehroní. Today, it allows visitors to the region to admire the beautiful nature of the Muránska Planina National Park and offers views from two viaducts, or a passage through a 786-meter-long tunnel during an experience ride on the Zbojnícky Express.

Since the train ride also has its children's fans, they were also thought of during the implementation. In addition to the video, a new playful element was created in the museum, large folding cubes that, when assembled correctly, create one of the six motifs connected to the track. Children thus get to know the interesting things about the cogwheel railway in a playful way.

The invited guests and passengers of the Zbojnícke Express, which stopped right in front of the museum entrance at the Tisovec station, were the first to see these news. The Zbojnícky Express experience train runs on the Rimavská Sobota - Zbojská route on selected dates, and its 150 passengers diversified their break with a tour of novelties that will from now on serve not only experience train visitors.

"Historical adventure trains are one of the most popular tourist products in the Banskobystrica region. Their goal is to introduce visitors to more remote regions of the region. I am very much looking forward to this project, because it proves to me that my colleagues in the regions are thinking systematically and working to make the offer more attractive in places where historic trains bring passengers. At the same time, the cog railway in this region is the only functioning one in Europe, so it certainly deserves such attention," said Ondrej Lunter, vice-president of the Banskobystrica self-governing region.

The production of the film documentary was carried out by the Regional Tourism Organization GEMER and financially supported by the Development Agency of the Banskobystrica Region. "The creation of the film was preceded by research into available materials, primarily historical photographs. Out of the total number of 300 photographs related to Zubacka, approximately 70 of the most captivating and rare were included in the film, and 10 of them were additionally "moved" thanks to new technologies. Together with a great accompanying word, a film was created that will literally absorb the visitor," said the executive director of OOCR GEMER, Jaroslav Hric, during the premiere.

Thanks also go to the activities of the city of Tisovec, to the representatives of the civic association Zubačka, which runs a small railway museum at the station in Tisovec, and to whom we also owe the fact that a steam cog operated on the track until last year - it is in the process of general repair from this year.

"The city of Tisovec is interested in supporting the development of tourism in the city in the future as well. The cooperation of our municipalities in the Muránska planina microregion is also aimed at building tourism. Every new product that helps make our region visible is welcome, and certainly the film that premieres today here in the museum of Tisov's Zubacka will be a lesson in history for visitors and, especially for the younger generation, an enrichment of new knowledge. We founded Tisovská Zubačka as a civil association in 2004, and since then it has had a number of active volunteers, without whom even today could not take place. So a big thank you to the members of OZ Zubačka, OOCR Gemer and BBSK, that a good thing has been done, " declared Irena Milecová, the mayor of Tisovec.

The project was implemented with the financial support of the Regional Tourism Organization GEMER and the Development Agency of the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region, but