CZ/SK verze

Choo-Choo on the Pitch: How a Vintage Train Became a Star Attraction at Čierny Balog's Football Matches

Choo-Choo on the Pitch: How a Vintage Train Became a Star Attraction at Čierny Balog's Football Matches
photo: FK Železiarne Podbrezová/Choo-Choo on the Pitch: How a Vintage Train Became a Star Attraction at Čierny Balog's Football Matches
30 / 08 / 2023

Slovakia has a unique attraction in the village of Čierny Balog near the town of Brezno. During the football match, an ancient train passes in front of the spectators. Every year, the train of the Montenegrin Railway attracts many visitors from all over the world.

Last Wednesday, the match between Tatran Čierny Balog and Podbrezová took place on this unconventional pitch. The players were brought there by a train, and the footballers suddenly found themselves directly on the green playing field. The train may run near the football stadium, but none of the trains runs directly through it.

FK Železiarne Podbrezová

Imagine you are watching a match, and a train passes in front of you. It is known from history that the Black Horse Railway was built before the stadium. The train runs through Chvatimech — Hronec — Čierny Balog, Čierny Balog — Vydrovo and Čierny Balog — Dobroč in the Slovak Ore Mountains. During the Second World War, the whole line measured up to almost 132 km. Only 36 kilometers of the line were in operation before the transport was canceled in 1982.

The operation was canceled for some time, and in 1992, it was restored in the direction of Vydrov and later also to Dobroč. When the train was not working, a football field was built. The train attraction attracts tourists who can enjoy a unique experience every day during the high season. It often happens that the crossing is intertwined with a football match.

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