Telgárt loop
The story of the construction of this unique masterpiece in Telgárt is a representation of human ingenuity, skill and hard work. The masterpiece created by the hands of skilled technical engineers is still a wonder to admire today, and the darkness of the tunnel gives chills to the passengers seated in modern and historic trains alike. The combination of sophistication and the magical nature of the three national parks makes it the perfect attraction for visitors and railway enthusiasts alike.
The story of the Loop started to be written in 1920, when a proposal from the Ministry of Railways enacted a program to build railroads in Czechoslovakia. Under this law, a single-track railway line on the route Červená Skala - Margecany was to be built. Officially, the construction started 11 years later, when on May 31, 1931, the Minister of Railways Rudolf Mlčoch personally commenced the construction of the Telgárt tunnel, also known as the Kornel Stodola tunnel, with the ceremonial excavation of the tunnel.
Thus began the story of the 2.3-kilometre-long loop, which ingeniously overcomes the 31-metre-high elevation to the Besník saddle. The distance between the loop portals is 83 metres. Before the actual construction started, barracks were built for accommodation and offices. All the surrounding activities were directed towards this construction, even the work in some factories, sawmills and work in the forests was halted. Around 7,000 labourers worked on the entire site, with the Ministry of Welfare staff supervising the juveniles. For the local people, this construction project represented a great advantage and long-awaited stable employment, but the conditions were not ideal, and the railway witnessed several strikes during and after the economic crisis throughout its construction. A state tender for the construction of the railway was won by Müller & Kapsa and the companies Kruliš, Jáchymek and Schwarz.
A 1.2 km long tunnel, named after the Slovak politician, signatory of the Martin Declaration and pioneer of skiing in Slovakia, Kornel Stodola, constitutes a part of the loop. Kornel Stodola contributed to the improvement of the conditions of the labourers who worked on this railway line. The construction of the tunnel cost 23 million Czechoslovak crowns. The granite for the tunnel construction was obtained from a temporary quarry under the Tresník hill. The tunnel partly runs in a straight line for a distance of 83 metres, but mostly follows a curved track with a radius of 400 metres and a slope of 12.5‰. The construction of the tunnel is also associated with a sad story that has been passed down from generation to generation among the local residents. It is said that the construction manager, just before the tunnel was to be connected and simultaneously dug from both sides, feared that the tunnels would collide due to his miscalculation, and shot himself. Shortly afterwards, the tunnels were connected, but this did not bring him back to life. During the construction of the tunnel, people had to deal with various hazards such as quicksand and huge streams of underground water, which flowed out at a rate of 35 l/s, with which they later filled the water supply of the guard house. In 1997 the tunnel was modernized again due to its unsatisfactory technical conditions. During the restoration, a statue of St. Barbora, the patron saint of miners, was installed at the tunnel portal entrance for good luck.
Telgárt Guesthouse
Many people wonder why the railway station standing at the entrance to the Telgárt Loop is called Telgárt Guesthouse when there is no guesthouse in the area. This was not always the case. In the past, the former barracks were converted into a guesthouse after the completion of the railway works. The owner was an Italian, Antonio Romani. The guesthouse was well known abroad. For example, the Italian ski team visited it, and during World War II, many German children came there for a resident outdoor school. As the guesthouse was very far from the railway station, an additional stop was built to provide visitors with more comfortable transport experience. The station was given the name Telgárt Guesthouse to match the location. Only the large outdoor swimming pool has been preserved from the original guesthouse, which still reminds us of the beginnings of the development of tourism in Telgárt.
GPS: 48°51'10.572"N, 20°12'0.654"E
