We are exclusively publishing the original brochure format printed by the Buchdruckerei der “Bosnischen Post” in Sarajevo in 1904. The original title of this historic work is: “Fünfundzwanzig jahre Schmalspurbahn in Bosnien 1879.-1904.” (Twenty-five years of narrow-gauge railway in Bosnia 1879-1904), authored by publicist and chronicler of that time, Richard Haemmerle.
Richard Haemmerle was a firsthand witness when the first train arrived in Zenica on July 14, 1879, and now, in 1904, he is present commemorating the 25th anniversary of the “Bosnian” line Brod-Brod-Zenica. During his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he collected data and noted what he saw at specific moments, which ultimately resulted in this historic work.
One of the important historical events documented was the establishment of the Administrative Board on April 22, 1879, led by the operations manager, Pioneer Captain Franz Winkler, based in Derventa. In the same year (September 10), Pionier Major Johann Tomaschek was appointed as the first director of the Imperial and Royal Bosnia Railway (k. k. Bosnabahn). He remained in this position until May 1, 1895, when Oberingenieur Karl Schnack took over as the director of the Imperial and Royal Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Railways (k. k. BHStB) and the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Provincial Railways (k. k. BHLB), serving until 1912. From 1912 to 1918, Franjo Mrasek was appointed as the Chief Director.
This brochure contains a brief overview of the development of the Bosnia and Herzegovina railway, and we will briefly list the most important data from the content, which are: Design and contractors for earthworks and the railway routes Brod – Sarajevo, Metković – Sarajevo, Vogošća – Čevljanović, Doboj – Simin Han, Lašva – Jajce, Podlugovi – Vareš, Gabela – Zelenika, Uskoplje – Dubrovnik, and Hum – Trebinje, as well as a description of the events related to the opening of these routes to public traffic, the costs involved, statistical data on the traction and rolling stock, passenger and freight transportation, etc.
One of the interesting details in the brochure concerns Emperor Franz Joseph’s first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina land on September 16, 1885. Specifically, the emperor arrived by train from Budapest to the Slavonski Brod station, and on foot, crossing the iron bridge over the Sava River, he reached the Bosanski Brod station. He was greeted there by the manager Johann Tomaschek, Baron Johann von Appel, and the mayor Afiz Mehmed Efendija. He stayed briefly and then returned to the train heading towards Vienna. The emperor’s second visit to Bosnia took place at the end of May 1910.
The information from the brochure as well as author Richard Haemmerle are frequently cited in many history books and encyclopedias. This written work has undergone numerous reproductions and even digital reconstructions, preserving the original format. Attached to this article is a photo gallery where you can view the original brochure format and exclusive photographs from the photo report of the journey from Brod to Zenica from 1879.
