Perhaps not many know this, but one of the most important tourist attractions in Maramures is the steam-powered train Mocanita.
The train is used to go through a 55 km track through the Vaserului Valley narrow path and is popular among local as well as foreign tourists. The Vaserului Valley belongs to the “Maramures Mountains” National Park and offers some of the most fascinating views.
This railway is the only forest railway still functioning in the Carpathian Mountains and is mainly used to carry wood.
The Mocanita
The train was built after the First World War and was intended to carry wood. There used to be two routes: a short one to Novat – which is no longer in use – and the Paltin route.
According to the Forest Railway representatives in Viseu de Sus – CFF – who are responsible for the management of Mocanita – the route has a large and constant number of clients among those who choose to spend short holidays in the North of Romania.
The interest of Romanian tourists to travel by Mocanita is ever increasing, mainly due to the cultural events organized in the terminus station, Paltin.
It might be worth mentioning that, despite the technical difficulties, rock, classical and folk outdoor concerts have been organized in the Paltin Station, and they have been greatly enjoyed by everyone.
The outstanding success of the Mocanita paths is interesting, especially if we take into account the last years of economic crisis.
Night journeys by train are particularly on demand from amateur and professional photographers, hunting for spectacular pictures of the valley.
The foreign tourists arriving in the Vaserului Valley come mainly from Hungary, Germany, South Korea, USA, The Czech Republic and Poland, a pretty interesting cultural mixture!