Kępno's intriguing, historic station(s)

Passing through Kępno station, which lies on the Wrocław to Poznań railway line, I had been struck by the inappropriate size and number of platforms here given the modest town that it serves. This rail junction stood on the Polish side of the pre-war border with Germany, with four railway lines running through it. Today, only two are still active, with one crossing over the other at the station, which has high-level and low-level platforms.

Below: Kępno station, general view. To the left, you can see the bridge that takes the east-west line over the north-south line. A lovely brick-built station dating back to 1872, nicely refurbished. Sadly, the station building was closed, so I could not get interior snaps.

Below: looking down from the high-level platform at the low-level platform.

Below: looking across from the high-level platform at the station building.

Below: looking down from the high-level platform at the station building.

Below: under the viaduct that carries the east-west line over the north-south line.

Below: view of the high level platform from outside the station building. A freight train was branching off the line from the west to the north (click to enlarge - it's just visible to the left of the pic, on the spur joining the two lines).

This overgrown Tkt48 tank engine (below) is in a sad state and needs urgent restoration work. It stands in contrast with the station building, which is well-looked after.

A fascinating station, a distant walk from Kępno's recently restored market square (below), but worth the effort. At eight o'clock, the lights come on... autumn draws nearer.

I have just read that already by half past midnight on 1 September 1939, reconnaissance units of the German army were in Kępno's market square. The darkness had begun.

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