Poland: Locomotive proudly presented at INEA Stadion

17.10.2016 21:42 source: StadiumDB.com; author: michał

Crowd of some 4,000 people admired the Ty51-183 locomotive presentation in Poznan. This marks the end of a year-long campaign to bring Lech Poznań’s symbol to the stadium.

Ahead of yesterday’s Ekstraklasa game between Lech Poznań and Wisła Kraków around 4,000 people participated in the unveiling of Ty51-183 steam locomotive. With champagne, crane lifting the curtain and a 200-kg cake for supporters, the ceremony had much greater fanfare than it’s common in Poland.

The 60-year-old engine was donated by Polish railway foundation last year and has a symbolic role to play. It represents Lech’s railroad traditions and is a source of local pride, having been manufactured in Poznan in 1956.

The locomotive weighs 130 tons and it took well over a year to restore it and then transport to INEA Stadion. It now decorates the eastern entrance, most exposed to traffic and pedestrians.