Reviving Romania’s Vineyard Route: A Virtual Journey
The great wonder is in the works within the virtual world of train simulations in Railroad Trainz Simulator. We now have a railway connection to one of Vrancea County‘s most famed mountain resorts, Soveja Resort, albeit virtually.
This imaginative route originates from the Mărășești railway station. Then weaves through the city of Panciu and stretches to Soveja Resort along the picturesque Șușița Valley, shadowed by the Șușița River and paralleling the DN2L national road. Drawing from the existing railway line, which has languished in disrepair for over two decades, our virtual revival brings this track back to life. A key part of our project was crafting a new railway plan that extends from Panciu towards Soveja. After intensive study of the Panciu area, we devised a solution to extend the railway beyond its historical terminus at Panciu station. The line now diverges just past the station. Hugging the 204E road and Eroii Street towards the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, then loops around towards Crucea De Sus.
Mărășești – Soveja Virtually On Trainz
Further along, the route introduces new stations at Străoane and Muncelu, descending towards the Șușița River. This section includes an ambitious tunnel nearly 1000 meters long, remerging close to the DN2L near the Valea Câmpului stop. Ascending along the national road, the railway reaches Varnița and continues to Răcoasa. It links with Gogoiu village where a strategically placed station on DN2E. Connected via a new paved road and a bridge over the Șușița River, facilitates easy access for local residents. The journey advances towards the core of Câmpuri. With stops at Fetești and Rotilești, traversing one of the most scenic stretches of the Șușița Valley to the Schitul Soveja station. Then following the DN2L to the Amicii station. The route wouldn’t be complete without a station near the famous holiday home at the gateway to Soveja village. The final leg brings travellers to Poiana Punga, a captivating locale that is undoubtedly a highlight and deserving of its tourist draw.
There’s still work taking place on this project, which promises a double electrified track operating in a metro-like system across approximately 70 kilometres, enhancing both the functional and scenic value of the route.
A Little Bit Of Real Behind The Fictive
The Marasesti-Panciu railway was initiated by architect Nicolae Gabrielescu. With the necessary legal framework in place, Gabrielescu was the first to propose a project of this nature. He established the Vrancea Joint Stock Company in early 1900 with the goal of constructing and operating the Marasesti-Panciu railway. Construction began in the spring of 1901 and was carried out by private contractors.
At that time, the Panciu vineyard region was the most important in the country. The area served by the line was densely populated, offering significant benefits to the local population. According to official records from 1900 and retaining the old names of the localities, the line would have provided convenient transportation for the 2,785 inhabitants of Panciu. Then 1,824 in Crucea de Sus, 1,877 in Crucea de Jos, and 2,249 in Străoanele de Jos. More of 2,344 in Străoanele de Sus, and 1,234 in Diocheți, to name just a few of the settlements near the line.
Mărășești – Soveja Trainz Route – As It Was
The area’s forestry operations are also noteworthy, with an estimated 30,000 hectares of forest, of which only a small part was exploitable “due to the high cost of exploitation by cart, as carters preferred transporting the more lucrative wine barrels.“
Plans also included the opening of a ballast pit near the Sușița riverbed (realized later and already out of operation in the last two decades) and the potential future extension of the line from Panciu to Soveja, through Vizantea Baths, which would have captured tourist traffic. Another ambitious plan envisioned a branch to Vidra, which would have serviced the vineyards of that region and the vast timber reserves of the Vidra mountain area, a connection the line from Odobești never achieved. Unfortunately, no further railway construction occurred beyond Panciu. However, we — even if only virtually — try to imagine what could have been, believing it would have been quite splendid.
We have these precious details thanks to the dedicated Romanian website named Linia Vinului (The Wine Line).
