This summer, Vasily, his wife Olga, and their daughter Vasilisa visited Minett Park and were amazed by their experience. The steam train, still in operation and meticulously maintained by passionate volunteers, particularly impressed them. To honor this experience, they decided to make a donation. But what item to offer?
Without delay, they explored local flea markets in search of a meaningful souvenir. Finding nothing relevant in the area, Vasily decided to turn to his Slavic roots. In Russia, flea markets often abound with objects imported from Europe. However, due to the current situation, many nationals have emigrated to neighboring countries, sometimes taking treasures with them.
It was in Uzbekistan that Vasily discovered an impressive collection of kepis, the typical headgear of railway workers, from all over the world. Among them was a Luxembourgish example! To his great surprise, this kepi from the Luxembourg National Railway (CFL), dating back to 1963, was in impeccable condition. He offered it to us in a custom-cut shoebox, still marked with its label in Cyrillic, testifying to the long journey of this unique piece to find its Luxembourgish origins.
Vasily and his family came to present the kepi to us at Fond-de-Gras. This kind of gesture is truly remarkable! Indeed, it is extremely rare for someone to take so much time and effort to search for a specific object, solely for the purpose of offering it to us. Their dedication and enthusiasm were palpable. In return, we wanted to express our deep gratitude by offering them souvenirs from Minett Park, even though nothing could match the generosity of their donation.
We warmly thank Vasily’s family for this generous donation, which is now an integral part of our heritage.
The kepi donated by Vasily is much more than just a headpiece: it embodies an era when each railway profession was marked by distinctive insignias, allowing for the quick identification of roles and hierarchy within the staff.
At the time, each railway profession was associated with a specific emblem, carefully sewn onto locally made kepis. Certain details, such as stars or oak leaf patterns, provided a visual indication of the rank or responsibilities of the wearer.
The two rail motifs framing the CFL logo suggest that this kepi belonged to a railway worker responsible for track maintenance. The examples shown in the photos below attest to the richness and diversity of these symbols, a true reflection of the organization and pride in railway professions.