We are publishing several photographs from the filming of the movie “The Last Narrow Gauge Switchman” from 1985. The film was shot from July 15 to August 31, 1985, under the working title “The Great Narrow Gauge Switchman.”
The story is set in a small Bosnian-Herzegovinian town (Komar Station – in the film, it is called “Brezovi Days”) where the local narrow-gauge railway is the only connection to the outside world, and the plot depicts the residents’ efforts to adapt to the rail line’s abolition.
The film was shot at the Komar narrow-gauge station on the 48th kilometer from Lašva station, extending to Donji Vakuf station. This track was built in October 1894 and was discontinued in July 1975. Since the film was recorded in 1985, all necessary infrastructure—including railway tracks, switches, signal devices, auxiliary buildings, and station buildings with convincing details both outside and inside—was constructed for the purposes of filming. Additionally, a steam locomotive of the 83 series was brought in by truck (a crane truck), fueled up at Banovići, and ready for shooting. Based on sketches, the entire filming crew, along with actors and extras, gathered daily at this small railway station area called “Brezovi dani” to shoot the scenes.
Today, (2019), at the place where the Komar station once stood and where the cult film was shot, there is absolutely nothing left of the railway station and the accompanying tunnel. The building has been completely demolished to the ground, and now there is an open field. The tunnel still exists, but it is completely collapsed in the middle. The cause of this sad state is the last war from our recent past.
In the end, we would like to mention that the film was directed by Vesna Ljubić, a renowned Bosnian-Herzegovinian director who has left an indelible mark on Bosnian cinematography through her films.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the author, Mr. Ajdin Fevzić Braci, for providing the photographs. Otherwise, the photographer is a long-time railway worker and served as one of the technical and expert consultants during the filming.
