From Žarnovica to below the Vtáčnik hill, a forest railway went winding through the Kľak valley and Pokúty valley, which for 40 years transported timber from this valley. Learn more about the history of the forest railway from the outdoor exhibition in the village of Hrabičov. The site of the former locomotive depot in Pilka became the starting point of this educational trail. An interesting stop is the best-preserved building on the route, the Pokúty Bridge.
Trail: Žarnovica - Horné Hámre - Župkov - Hrabičov - Pilka - Kollárová - Pavlova Lúčka - Megová - Podkľak - Pilka - Žarnovica.
More information: www.klakovskadolina.sk, or www.lesy.sk
History of forest railway
Construction work on the forest railway in the Kľak valley began in 1924 and individual sections of the line were gradually built.1924-1927 Žarnovica-Hrabičov-Pavlova lúka section, until 1930 Hrabičov-Kľak-Megová section. The third branch was built to Šarkanov jarok (direction to the village of Píla). The total length of the line was about 34 km, the section from Žarnovica to Pavlova lúka measured 21.9 km. The permitted speed was 15 km/h. The best years of the railway were in the 1930s.
The forest railway had several timber yards on the line, to which the timber was brought by rickshaws and private horse and ox teams. One of these timber yards, the largest on the line, was also in the locality of Pokuta, where the railway branched off into two valleys.
