The Alföld Industrial Garden Railways (AKGV) is Hungary’s largest private collection of narrow gauge industrial railways. The history of the AKGV dates back to 1998, when a section of the 600 mm gauge industrial railway got endangered due to demolition works at the Bohn brickworks in Békéscsaba. The family of AKGV’s founder then bought two dismantled turntables from the brickworks and enough track material to build a 50-metre long garden railway on the family’s weekend estate. In the same year, following the purchase of two railway wagons, a car shed was built to store them.
In 2005-2006, additional rail wagons and track materials were delivered from the recently closed brickworks in Szentes and Békés, and the first AKGV locomotive was purchased from the Békés brickworks as well in 2007.
During these years, the railway line was significantly extended, and AKGV’s industrial heritage protection activities received more publicity. As a result, other keen heritage enthusiasts joined the hitherto virtually one-man railway. The larger team has opened up new opportunities for both rolling stock salvage and the development of railway operations. What would previously have been an impossible undertaking, either physically or financially, has now become a reality through joint efforts (e.g. track extensions or the construction of a four-stand engine shed with a transfer table).
By 2023, on the 25th anniversary of the AKGV, the rolling stock – which is mainly based on vehicles from the defunct brickworks – will have reached 100 units with 15 engines and 85 wagons, and the track length will exceed 150 metres. The former weekend estate has been transformed into a miniature railway open-air museum, suitable for the demonstration of 600 mm gauge industrial railway vehicles and their infrastructure in operation.
Besides the rescue, repair, restoration and display of industrial railway vehicles and artefacts, the members of AKGV are actively involved in the protection of industrial heritage at both national and local level. One of their goals is to create an interactive exhibition on the history of brick manufacturing in Békéscsaba, adjacent to the former clay pits, which would also serve as the starting point for a narrow gauge railway, thus revitalising the once flourishing industrial area, which has been abandoned for almost four decades.
