EszÂter SzaÂbó: The HisÂtoÂry of RailÂwaÂys in CsalÂlóÂköz from the BeginÂning to 1918
My study deals with the hisÂtoÂry of the local railway, crosÂsing CsalÂlóÂköz, from the beginÂning of its buÂilÂding to the disinÂtegÂraÂtiÂon of the Austria-Hungarian Monarchy. The CsalÂlóÂköz railÂway was built in two parts: the 43,6 km long Pozsony–Dunaszerdahely1 line was deliÂveÂred to trafÂfic in 1895, while the 53,5 km long Komárom–Dunaszerdahely route was accomÂplisÂhed one year later. The two were uniÂted in 1904 and named PoÂzsony–KoÂmáÂrom UniÂted Local Railways.
In spite of the fact that all the local railÂwaÂys (or branch lines) were built on the basis of simiÂlar designs, due to the big role of local inÂteÂrest (villages, landowners), the conÂstrucÂtiÂons were proÂviÂded differently. Their buÂilÂding was iniÂtiÂaÂliÂsed from lower layÂers and the buÂilÂding of such railÂwaÂys needed the union of the whole regÂion, and requÂesÂted subsÂtanÂtiÂal finanÂciÂal means.
Since in the conÂstrucÂtiÂon of railÂwaÂys the local peopÂle had a very imporÂtant role, the first chapÂter is about the regÂion. In the secÂond chapÂter the reaÂder can read about the preÂceÂdents and buÂilÂding of the railway. BecauÂse of the conÂtext the probÂleÂms of buÂilÂding local railÂwaÂys in HunÂgaÂry are touched. The third chapÂter exaÂmiÂnes the funÂctiÂoÂning of the railÂway on the basis of annuÂal reports issuÂed by railÂway joint stock companies. The last part tries to show the railÂway’s influÂenÂce on the regÂion, although stresÂses that an oveÂrall surÂvey of the topic requÂiÂres a moÂre extenÂsiÂve comÂplex reseÂarch touÂching the area’s ecoÂnoÂmiÂcal and social issues.
For wriÂting a comÂplex hisÂtoÂry of the railÂway would requÂiÂre the proÂcess and evaÂluÂaÂtiÂon of seveÂral other data except of these. Therefore, we could achiÂeÂve a picÂture on the inteÂracÂtiÂon betÂweÂen the railÂway and the deveÂlopÂment of the CsalÂlóÂköz regÂion. A moÂre extenÂsiÂve knowÂledÂge and introÂducÂtiÂon of the hisÂtoÂry of railÂway would disÂcoÂver a newer branch of the regiÂon’s history, and the exaÂmiÂnaÂtiÂon of social, economic, cultural, and civiÂliÂsaÂtiÂon proÂcesÂses can reveÂal the influÂenÂcing facÂtors from the past. InforÂmaÂtiÂon found this way can help deveÂlopÂment efforts of the regÂion.