Kasina Wielka: Historic Railway Station

Model created by: Atlas 3D – photogrammetry Poland

Located at the foot of Mount Śnieżnica in the Beskid Wyspowy mountains, the railway station in Kasina Wielka is a true gem among Poland’s technical heritage sites. For over a century, it was a bustling hub on one of the most scenic railway routes in the country. Today, the station building continues to impress, now serving an entirely new function.

The station’s history dates back to 1884. Its construction was part of a major Austro-Hungarian engineering project – the Galician Transversal Railway. This strategic railway line, connecting Čadca (now in Slovakia) with Husiatyn (now in Ukraine), was intended to provide an alternative connection between Vienna and Lviv in case of conflict with Russia.

Kasina Wielka station was located on one of the most challenging and picturesque sections of this route – line no. 104 from Chabówka to Nowy Sącz. The line was officially opened on December 16, 1884, and Emperor Franz Joseph I personally decorated the engineer responsible for its construction, Apolinary de Dziula Dziewolski.

Turbulent history and a film career

For decades, the station served both military and civilian purposes. It played a key role during World War I, and in August 1944, during World War II, it became the target of a sabotage operation by a unit of the Polish Home Army, which blew up a German military train at the site.

After the war, the line through Kasina Wielka remained an important communication route, but over time its significance declined. Regular passenger train services were suspended, and the station, like the entire line, fell into disrepair. However, the station had its moments of fame, appearing in films such as Steven Spielberg’s *Schindler’s List*, Andrzej Wajda’s *Katyń*, *Karol: A Man Who Became Pope*, and *Edges of the Lord*.

A new life for the historic station

Although regular train services on line no. 104 have been suspended, the future looks brighter. The route is currently undergoing modernization to restore its former glory and revive passenger services.

The station building itself has been carefully restored by a private investor, with attention to historical details, and transformed into an apartment facility called “Stacja Kasina.” Today, tourists can not only admire the historic architecture but also stay in stylish interiors of the former station building, located right next to a popular ski and bike resort.

3D Model

I decided to preserve the charm of this place, and using approximately 450 drone photos and photogrammetry techniques, I created a digital 3D model of this historic station, which you can explore here.