Memory of Railway Generations in State Archives

June 9, 2026 – October 2, 2026

Pamięć Kolejowych Pokoleń w Archiwach Państwowych

PKP S.A., together with the State Archives, invites you to participate in a collection of private memorabilia and documents related to railways. The aim of the campaign is to preserve the memory of Polish railways and railway workers and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of PKP in the Year of Polish Railways. Artur Barciś – the first donor of the campaign, a renowned Polish theater and television actor, who donated memorabilia of his parents professionally involved with the railway – invites everyone to join the initiative. Materials can be submitted until October 2nd this year.

Photo albums, yellowed tickets, service IDs, diplomas, or old travel letters – these are just some of the mementos that hold the history of not just one family, but of entire Poland. Now, thanks to the nationwide campaign „Memory of Railway Generations in State Archives,” they can become invaluable testaments to past eras and a source of knowledge about railways for future generations. The history of railways in Poland is primarily the history of people – their work, passion, professional pride, and daily lives. It is also a story about families in which railway traditions were passed down from generation to generation, and about places that for decades were the heart of local communities and the backdrop for thousands of journeys.

– The history of Polish railways is, above all, the history of people – railway workers, their families, and the communities that have influenced the development of our country for generations. Today, we want to preserve this heritage not only in textbooks but also in family keepsakes, memories, and documents that are often hidden away in domestic nooks and crannies. This initiative is a unique opportunity for everyone, in this jubilee year, to become a co-creator of the social history of Polish railways. I encourage you to share photographs, tickets, ID cards, letters, and other materials related to railways and the work of railwaymen. Together, let's create the largest social collection of memories of one of the most important symbols of Poland's development. – emphasizes Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure.

The goal of the nationwide campaign is to protect the memory of railway workers and preserve the material and immaterial traces of their lives before they disappear into domestic drawers along with the passing of witnesses to the past. Behind every old family album, handwritten diary, or map lies more than just a memento – it holds people, emotions, and stories about the railway, which has connected Poles for generations. The collection celebrates the 100th anniversary of Polish State Railways under the slogan „We Connect People, Places, and Stories” by creating a shared, collective narrative about the first century of PKP – a story built not only by dates and reforms but primarily by the fates of railway employees, their families, and railway enthusiasts.

– In the Year of the Polish Railway and the celebratory 100th anniversary of Polish State Railways, under the slogan „Connecting People, Places, and Histories,” we recall not only the rich achievements and heritage of the Polish railway but also its consistently important role in social life. We are pleased with the growing popularity of train travel and believe that millions of passengers have special memories associated with it. Through the nationwide collection „Memory of Railway Generations in State Archives,” we encourage family conversations, the discovery of railway traditions, and the sharing of mementos and stories. We want this shared story of the railway not only to preserve the memory of past generations but also to inspire future ones. – says Alan Beroud, President of the Management Board of PKP S.A. and the PKP Group.

All memorabilia related to the history of railways and the work of railway employees and enthusiasts are being collected, regardless of the era, form, or condition. These may include documents, photographs, timetables, maps and technical plans, books and publications, tickets, posters, postcards, audio and video recordings, as well as family memories and stories related to railways. All State Archives and their branches throughout Poland have joined the initiative, allowing materials to be submitted locally – at the branch closest to the donor's place of residence.

– Without archives, memory would be fragile and fleeting – it is here that individual documents, photographs, and memories come together to form a complete picture of our past. Every railway souvenir, no matter how small, is part of a larger, shared history, which is why it is so important today to preserve this memory. We encourage you to donate railway memorabilia to the State Archives, where they will be safely preserved and made available to future generations. Railways hold a special place in the archives, which is why we are so pleased to be carrying out this initiative together with PKP S.A., creating a space where the history of the institution meets the history of its people. – says Dr. hab. Lucyna Harc, Deputy Director General of the State Archives.

The provided materials will be professionally secured, processed, and made available to researchers, history enthusiasts, and future generations in the State Archives. Their digital copies will be accessible through the publicly available „Search in Archives” service, allowing everyone to view them online.

– State Archives are a place where mementos are safe and preserved for future generations – nothing will get lost in a drawer or be forgotten. That's why it's worth passing them on. I joined the initiative by donating my parents' railway passes, because railways have been present in my family's history for generations – my parents were railway workers, my grandfather was a conductor, and my great-grandfather helped build the Warsaw-Vienna Railway. – says Artur Barciś, the first donor to the „Memory of Railway Generations in State Archives” campaign.

The collection lasts until October 2nd of this year. The initiative is under the honorary patronage of: the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The partners of the initiative are: PKP Group companies, the Railway Institute, the Office of Rail Transport, the PKP Group Foundation, and the Stacja Muzeum.