Travelogue Eurasia2005, part 1: Trip preparations

Ulf Kutzner writes:

Evolutions Sins schrieb:

Friday 22nd july 2005

[SNIP]
Great reports, i have been reading these all.
How was the boarder crossing into UA?

See part 2.

Regards, ULF

I must of missed part two as it went by, guess i will have to
googlegroups.

--
To new to the group to have a real sig

"Neil Williams" writes:

tobias b köhler wrote:

As is explained he

http://www.raiffeisen.ru/rBank/about...t-lang&lang=en

it's a house roof ornament symbolizing two horse heads (I think this
used to be common in rural north German areas).

I have *long* wondered what the Raiffeisen symbol was meant to
be... as the organisation originates from farmers' co-operatives I
did wonder if it was two "farming devices" of some sort crossed, in
the manner of the hammer and sickle.

Thanks!

Neil


Agreed!



--
To new to the group to have a real sig

Monday 25th july 2005



We wake up at about 9 a.m.. During our breakfast we are approaching the
Russian capital:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_202.jpg



Interesting precautions against foolish drivers at level crossings:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_207.jpg



Punctually at 10:58 we arrive at Kievskaja station:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ua/...iny/01_212.jpg



....the main-hall of the station has been renovated in 2004. Unfortunately
there are only 4 tracks in the hall, most of the trains arrive and leave on
the tracks outside.

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_214.jpg





For our two nights in Moscow I reserved a room via E-mail at the "Hostel
Tramp" (http://www.hostelling.ru/index.php4). We decided to take a taxi,
alltough it's much more expensice (23 USD) than the taxi. We haven't yet
changed money, so we pay with USD. The ride goes over large roads with 6 or
even more lanes per direction to the north of the town. The hostel itself
appears then to be a special cheap contingent of rooms at "Hotel Turist".



Shortly after arrival my friend Alexander calls me. We know each otrher from
a Russian railway discussion board on the internet. He ist the boss of the
train ticket department of the company "Transinfoset" and has issued tickets
Irkutsk - Ulan Bator for us and has with a partner agency organized tickets
Ulan-Bator - Beijing for us.

Today we decide to meet at 18:45 at the metro station "Prospekt Mira" to
have dinner together and to make the business with our tickets. During the
telephone call we find out, that the hotel manager is a good friend of
Alexander and that helps us to get a 33% discount on the hostel rate (20
instead of 30 USD per night per person).



There is still much time till evening, so we decide to go to the city
center. We take the metro from the near station "Botanicheskij sad" and then
have a little walk around the Red Squa



Red Square, from left to right: Lenin-Mausoleum, historical museum and GUM
(state universal store, today a modern and expensice shopping center):

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2159/01_218.jpg



Basilius-cathedrale:

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1957/01_220.jpg



If he knew.....

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2904/01_222.jpg



....or if those guys knew...

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/3286/01_224.jpg



Inside GUM:

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/466/01_233.jpg



Oliver and I have been in Moscow before, so we don't plan further
sightseeing activities and switch to rail-related activities.

Of course we have to visit the book store "Transportnaja kniga" near the
mnetro station "Krasnye Vorota". At this stop we can buy "The One Book": The
timetable book of the Russian Railways! I buy the timetable book and also
the Russian railway atlas (also very interesting) for each about 300
roubles.

After that we walk to Kazanskij station. At the bus terminal in front of the
station we see an Uzbek bus with destination Buchara. Incredible, how people
can go by bus over 3000 kilometers on bad roads.

Later on this trip I will also go to Buchara, fortunately by train..



Kazanskyj station:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_237.jpg



Train 94 to Magnitogorsk:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_239.jpg



Elektritchka (local train):

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_240.jpg



In the station hall:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_241.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_242.jpg

In earlier times the hall was open, the roof is quite new, as far as I know.



After some train-spotting we go by metro to "Prospekt Mira", where we meet
Alexander. We then go together to a restaurant neraby and during dinner we
have long discussions about different things, mostly rail-related. Oliver
and I have much questions regarding the Russian train reservation and
ticketing system "Express" and Alexander knows many things about it.

Well, it was an interesing evening.



Tuesday 26th july 2005



Today we make a short trip to Mtyshchi. Our plan is to use the "Sputnik",
which is a new suburbahn express service startiong from Jaroslavskij
station.

The "Sputnik" has a special fare, which is still quite cheap for us. The
ride to Mtyshchi takes about 20 minutes.



http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_246.jpg



Thze interiour is still quite spartanic, but better than in normal
elektrichkas:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_247.jpg



Station Mtyshchi:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_249.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_250.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/work/01_251.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ite/01_253.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_257.jpg

Mtyshchi is well known as place where the metro trains for socialistic
countries have been produced. They still produce metro and suburban trains
here.



We take a normal elektrichka back to Moscow. As I feel a little bit sick, I
decide to finish the day and go back to the hotel to have some sleep,
whereas Oliver decides to go to the city center.



To be continued.

On Sun, 5 Nov 2006 21:13:13 +0100, Helmut Uttenthaler wrote:

Monday 25th july 2005



We wake up at about 9 a.m.. During our breakfast we are approaching the
Russian capital:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_202.jpg



Interesting precautions against foolish drivers at level crossings:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_207.jpg



Punctually at 10:58 we arrive at Kievskaja station:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ua/...iny/01_212.jpg



...the main-hall of the station has been renovated in 2004. Unfortunately
there are only 4 tracks in the hall, most of the trains arrive and leave on
the tracks outside.

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_214.jpg





For our two nights in Moscow I reserved a room via E-mail at the "Hostel
Tramp" (http://www.hostelling.ru/index.php4). We decided to take a taxi,
alltough it's much more expensice (23 USD) than the taxi. We haven't yet
changed money, so we pay with USD. The ride goes over large roads with 6 or
even more lanes per direction to the north of the town. The hostel itself
appears then to be a special cheap contingent of rooms at "Hotel Turist".



Shortly after arrival my friend Alexander calls me. We know each otrher from
a Russian railway discussion board on the internet. He ist the boss of the
train ticket department of the company "Transinfoset" and has issued tickets
Irkutsk - Ulan Bator for us and has with a partner agency organized tickets
Ulan-Bator - Beijing for us.

Today we decide to meet at 18:45 at the metro station "Prospekt Mira" to
have dinner together and to make the business with our tickets. During the
telephone call we find out, that the hotel manager is a good friend of
Alexander and that helps us to get a 33% discount on the hostel rate (20
instead of 30 USD per night per person).



There is still much time till evening, so we decide to go to the city
center. We take the metro from the near station "Botanicheskij sad" and then
have a little walk around the Red Squa



Red Square, from left to right: Lenin-Mausoleum, historical museum and GUM
(state universal store, today a modern and expensice shopping center):

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2159/01_218.jpg



Basilius-cathedrale:

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1957/01_220.jpg



If he knew.....

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2904/01_222.jpg



...or if those guys knew...

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/3286/01_224.jpg



Inside GUM:

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/466/01_233.jpg



Oliver and I have been in Moscow before, so we don't plan further
sightseeing activities and switch to rail-related activities.

Of course we have to visit the book store "Transportnaja kniga" near the
mnetro station "Krasnye Vorota". At this stop we can buy "The One Book": The
timetable book of the Russian Railways! I buy the timetable book and also
the Russian railway atlas (also very interesting) for each about 300
roubles.

After that we walk to Kazanskij station. At the bus terminal in front of the
station we see an Uzbek bus with destination Buchara. Incredible, how people
can go by bus over 3000 kilometers on bad roads.

Later on this trip I will also go to Buchara, fortunately by train..



Kazanskyj station:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_237.jpg



Train 94 to Magnitogorsk:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_239.jpg



Elektritchka (local train):

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_240.jpg



In the station hall:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_241.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_242.jpg

In earlier times the hall was open, the roof is quite new, as far as I know.



After some train-spotting we go by metro to "Prospekt Mira", where we meet
Alexander. We then go together to a restaurant neraby and during dinner we
have long discussions about different things, mostly rail-related. Oliver
and I have much questions regarding the Russian train reservation and
ticketing system "Express" and Alexander knows many things about it.

Well, it was an interesing evening.



Tuesday 26th july 2005



Today we make a short trip to Mtyshchi. Our plan is to use the "Sputnik",
which is a new suburbahn express service startiong from Jaroslavskij
station.

The "Sputnik" has a special fare, which is still quite cheap for us. The
ride to Mtyshchi takes about 20 minutes.



http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_246.jpg



Thze interiour is still quite spartanic, but better than in normal
elektrichkas:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_247.jpg



Station Mtyshchi:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EM2/01_249.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_250.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/work/01_251.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ite/01_253.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_257.jpg

Mtyshchi is well known as place where the metro trains for socialistic
countries have been produced. They still produce metro and suburban trains
here.



We take a normal elektrichka back to Moscow. As I feel a little bit sick, I
decide to finish the day and go back to the hotel to have some sleep,
whereas Oliver decides to go to the city center.



To be continued.

Another fantastic episode!
Can't wait for part 5!
Many thanks, Helmut

Regards
Gerry

[version with integrated pics:
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/...73#post135273]



Wednesday 27th july 2005



Today the long journey to the Baikal lake starts! In the morning we have
breakfast, put our things together and have a short visit in the internet
café at the hotel.

At about 11 a.m. we go by taxi (200 roubles) to Kazanskij station. There we
first of all take some photos of trains, unimportant things, like buying
food, have to wait.



Train 49 "Stolichnyj Ekspress" from Kazan to Moscow:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_266.jpg



Train 93 "Magnitka" from Magnitogorsk to Moscow:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...tny/01_269.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...tny/01_270.jpg



Our train is shunted to the platform at 11:55. A ChME-3 pulls the train into
the station. It consists of 13 carriages:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...999/01_267.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_268.jpg



The following train trip is the longest during the whole journey: 92 hours
and 45 minutes with train 92 for 5529 kilometers till Severobajkalsk:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/156...abaikalgy3.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_274.jpg



Departure is at 12:50

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_271.jpg



Our tickets are quite a surprise for the conductors:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/at/...Severobajkalsk
_92IJ.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/at/...ussland_200507
24.jpg



Our places are in the first carriage after the locomotive and we have an
upper and a lower bed in the 4-bed-compartment.

The carriage has no air-condition, so it's allowed to open the window for
taking photos.



Before departure we have some time to buy some food.



That's the timetable for the next few days:


+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+
| Moskva Kasanskaja | | 12:50 | D 92IJ |
| Wladimir Pass | 15:55 | 16:29 | |
| Kovrov 1 | 17:21 | 17:23 | |
| Dzerzhinsk | 19:09 | 19:11 | |
| Gorkii Mosk | 19:47 | 20:02 | |
| Semenow | 20:55 | 20:57 | |
| Wetlushskaja | 21:47 | 21:49 | |
| Uren | 22:30 | 22:32 | |
| Shahunia | 23:20 | 23:22 | |
| Kotelnitsch 1 | 00:58 | 01:00 | |
| Kirow Pass | 02:18 | 02:42 | |
| Suewka | 04:15 | 04:17 | |
| Falenki | 04:44 | 04:46 | |
| Jar | 05:14 | 05:16 | |
| Glazov(RU) | 05:53 | 05:55 | |
| Balesino | 06:23 | 06:46 | |
| Kes | 07:38 | 07:40 | |
| Wereschagino | 08:38 | 08:40 | |
| Mendeleewo | 09:03 | 09:05 | |
| Perm 2 | 10:25 | 10:48 | |
| Kungur | 12:24 | 12:26 | |
| Schalja | 14:24 | 14:26 | |
| Perwouralsk | 16:02 | 16:04 | |
| Swerdlowsk Pass | 16:49 | 17:17 | |
| Bashenowo | 18:08 | 18:10 | |
| Elanskij | 19:16 | 19:18 | |
| Kamischlow | 19:37 | 19:39 | |
| Oschepkowo | 20:11 | 20:13 | |
| Taliza | 20:39 | 20:41 | |
| Tjumen | 22:10 | 22:30 | |
| Ischim | 02:02 | 02:14 | |
| Nasiwaewskaja | 04:07 | 04:12 | |
| Ljubinskaja | 05:11 | 05:13 | |
| Omsk | 05:56 | 06:21 | |
| Kalatschinskaja | 07:20 | 07:22 | |
| Tatarskaja | 08:24 | 08:26 | |
| Barabinsk | 10:15 | 10:53 | |
| Tschulimskaja | 12:48 | 12:50 | |
| Novosibirsk(RUS) | 14:28 | 15:00 | |
| Bolotnaja | 17:03 | 17:05 | |
| Jurga 1 | 17:31 | 17:33 | |
| Jaschkino | 18:11 | 18:13 | |
| Taiga | 18:40 | 19:13 | |
| Ansherskaja | 19:44 | 19:46 | |
| Mariinsk | 21:18 | 21:40 | |
| Tjashin | 22:31 | 22:33 | |
| Bogotol | 23:37 | 23:40 | |
| Achinsk 1 | 00:39 | 00:42 | |
| Krasnojarsk Pass | 03:45 | 04:19 | |
| Kamartschaga | 05:46 | 05:48 | |
| Ujar | 06:34 | 06:36 | |
| Saosernaja | 07:09 | 07:11 | |
| Kansk-Enisejskij | 08:24 | 08:26 | |
| Ilanskaja | 08:57 | 09:20 | |
| Ingaschskaja | 09:52 | 09:54 | |
| Reschoti | 10:36 | 10:38 | |
| Tajshet | 11:46 | 12:16 | |
| Partschum | 13:45 | 13:46 | |
| Nowotschunka | 14:06 | 14:07 | |
| Sosnowie Rodniki | 14:22 | 14:24 | |
| Tschuna | 14:37 | 14:39 | |
| Wichorewka | 16:45 | 17:20 | |
| Ansebi | 17:47 | 17:51 | |
| Padunskie Porogi | 18:29 | 18:33 | |
| Gidrostroitel | 18:51 | 18:53 | |
| Sjuba | 19:21 | 19:23 | |
| Paschennij | 19:41 | 19:43 | |
| Keshemskaja | 20:08 | 20:10 | |
| Retschuschka | 20:44 | 20:46 | |
| Widim | 21:12 | 21:14 | |
| Sredneilimskaja | 22:24 | 22:26 | |
| Korschunicha-Angarsk | 22:49 | 23:09 | |
| Chrebtowaja | 23:39 | 23:41 | |
| Semigorsk | 00:21 | 00:23 | |
| Rutschej | 01:12 | 01:14 | |
| Jantal | 01:26 | 01:28 | |
| Lena | 02:18 | 02:43 | |
| Chudnichnij | 03:38 | 03:40 | |
| Swesdnaja | 04:05 | 04:07 | |
| Nija | 04:43 | 04:45 | |
| Nebel(RUS) | 05:19 | 05:20 | |
| Kirenga | 05:59 | 06:08 | |
| Ulkan | 06:49 | 06:51 | |
| Kunerma | 07:43 | 07:45 | |
| Delbichind | 08:04 | 08:11 | |
| Goudshekit | 08:47 | 08:49 | |
| Tija | 09:06 | 09:11 | |
| Sewerobajkalsk | 09:35 | | |
+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+






BTW, 30 minutes after our train, at 13:19, train 76 to Tynda (via Kazan -
Severobajkalsk) leaves Moscow. We could have taken also this train, it
arrives at Severobajkalsk even three hours earlier.

We see train 76 (with through carriages to Tommot) on an other track and we
will see him again during the next few days.





Our train is pulled by ChS2K 826 till Vladimir:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...S2K/01_272.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...kva/01_273.jpg



The train departs on-time at 12:50. We see the colourful ChS2-923 and once
more the carriages of the "Stolichnyj Ekspress" to Kazan:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...942/01_275.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_276.jpg



The line starting at Kazanskij station actually leads to Rjazan and Kazan,
but our train has to go to the line towards Nishnij Novgorod (which starts
at Kurskij station). So we leave the mainline to the south-east 10
kilometers after Kazanskij station and use the curve Perovo - Kuskovo to
get on the line to the east.

Many trains on this line also use Jaroslavskij station und travel via
Mtyshchi - Shchelkovo and reach the mainline to Nishnyj Novogorod only after
73 kilometers at Frjazevo.

(see map at
http://www.parovoz.com/maps/supermap...=7&LANG=en#MAP)



The reason that many trains towards Nishnyj Novgorod use Kazanskij or
Jaroslavskij station instead of Kurskij station is on the one hand, that
earlier most Transsib-trains ran via Jaroslavl and have been rerouted via
Nishnyj Novgorod only in 2001. But for keeping the tradition they still use
Jaroslavskij station. On the other hand Kurskij station is very busy with
trains to the south (especially in summer due to additional trains to the
Black Sea resorts) and track capacity is limited.



During the ride to Vladimir we have some small-talk with our "neighbours".
In our compartment a woman with her 15-year-old daughter are travelling home
to Ust-Kut (station Lena), after having visited relatives here in Moscow.
They are friendly, but quite quiet. So we have more communications with
passengers from other compartmens - a pensioneer travelling to Bratsk, a
student going home to Korshunicha-Angarsk and a family travelling also to
Bratsk.



The three hours till Vladimir pass fast. In Vladimir the train stops for
little more than half an hour. We get another locomotive, because the coming
section is electrified with AC 25 kV 50 Hz (Moskva - Vladimir: DC 3 kV). And
our train is overtaken by the express train 116 "Burevestnik". This is an
express train from Moscow to Nishnyj Novgorod and has left Moscow at 14:00
and will arrive at N.N. at 18:50 - one hour earlier than our train. This
train consists of new carriages, built in Tver (Russia).



Station Vladimir:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_282.jpg



Our DC-locomotive..

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...S2K/01_283.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...S2K/01_285.jpg



....is replaced by this AC-locomotive:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...hS4/01_287.jpg



Chs7 167 in Vladimir:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...199/01_286.jpg



Short Stopp at Kovrov:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_288.jpg



At Nishnyj Novgorod we see a loco-hauled local train (usually local trains
are EMUs or sometimes DMUs) with such carriages:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_290.jpg



Leaving Nishnyj Novgorod (the station is still called Gorkij):

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_293.jpg



Crossing the Volga river some kilometers after the statiuon is the
"highlight" of the day, but unfortunately it's alread to dark for good
photos.



After the big bridge we cook dinner (instand soup) and enjoy the ride
through the Russian darkness towards Siberia...



To be continued....

Very interesting, but do you have photos of the scenery and the people,
instead of just locomotives?
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

On Wed, 8 Nov 2006 08:06:16 +0100, Alfred Molon
wrote:

Very interesting, but do you have photos of the scenery and the people,
instead of just locomotives?

Helmut has not responded to this, but having followed his travelogue
in German (where he's up to part 28) I can tell you that there are
plenty of photos of people and places, as well as trains. This despite
the fact that he has posted mainly to railway-oriented forums, this
being his principal interest in the trip.

And a damn fine report it is, too.

--
Regards

Mike

mikedotroebuckatgmxdotnet

[with integrated pics:
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/...65#post136065]





This part again is quite rail related. There are some landscape photos, more
of them will come soon.

For those interested especially in non-rail-related pictures, I have marked
pictures with more landscape or people with "L".





Thursday 28th july 2005





The timetable for today:







+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+

| Kotelnitsch 1 | 00:58 | 01:00 | |

| Kirow Pass | 02:18 | 02:42 | |

| Suewka | 04:15 | 04:17 | |

| Falenki | 04:44 | 04:46 | |

| Jar | 05:14 | 05:16 | |

| Glazov(RU) | 05:53 | 05:55 | |

| Balesino | 06:23 | 06:46 | |

| Kes | 07:38 | 07:40 | |

| Wereschagino | 08:38 | 08:40 | |

| Mendeleewo | 09:03 | 09:05 | |

| Perm 2 | 10:25 | 10:48 | |

| Kungur | 12:24 | 12:26 | |

| Schalja | 14:24 | 14:26 | |

| Perwouralsk | 16:02 | 16:04 | |

| Swerdlowsk Pass | 16:49 | 17:17 | |

| Bashenowo | 18:08 | 18:10 | |

| Elanskij | 19:16 | 19:18 | |

| Kamischlow | 19:37 | 19:39 | |

| Oschepkowo | 20:11 | 20:13 | |

| Taliza | 20:39 | 20:41 | |

| Tjumen | 22:10 | 22:30 | |

+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+





We wake up at 9 a.m. Moscow time (= timetable time). We spend the day with
eating, drinking, looking at the passing landscape, talking, sleeping, etc.
It's never boring. During some longer stops we have the possibility tp leave
the train and walk on the platform - to take fotos or to buy food.



At some stations there are only small kiosks with beer, water, juices,
icecream and some snacks, but at some stations (for example Perm, Barabinsk,
Mariinsk) it's possible to buy a whole meal from a "Babushka", who are
trying to earn some extra money to their low pension.



Train 92 is not an extremely fast train. In average it stops every 63
kilometers. Between the Moscow and Novosibirsk the average distance between
stops is 86 kilometer. Not bad for Austrian relations, but on the otrher
hand there are trains which in average stop only every 300 kilometer between
Moscow and Novosibirsk.

The trip from Moscow to Novosibirsk takes 45:29 with btrain 4 (3303 km), but
train 92 needs 49:48 for a even shorter distance (3286 km, due to different
origin station in Moscow).

The slowest passenger train is no. 340 (or 350), which travels 55:19 for
3343 kilometer (via Jaroslaval).



Mail trains are even more slower. A mail train looks like that:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...age/01_309.jpg

Up to 25 mail and luggage cars, stopping at every village and longs sstops
(up to three hours) in big towns for loading and unloading or
attaching/detaching additional cars.

This trains transport nearly everything: packages, furniture, fences,
motorcycles.

The train on the picture aboce is train 918 (Moskva - Vladivostok) at Perm.



There are two mail trains between Moscow and Vladivostok: Train 917/918 (6
times weekly) and train 903/904 (daily).

Train 903/904 is the slowest train on the Transsiberian railway. The travel
time from Moscow to Vladivostok is 217:05, in the other direction 215:05.

For comparison: The express train no. 1/2 "Rossija" needs 147:59 and 148:27.





Here the timetable of train 904:





+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+

| Bahnhof | Ankunft | Abfahrt | Zug |

+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+

| Moskva Iaroslavskaja | | 5:20| 904AJ|

| Petushki | 7:44| 8:50| |

| Wladimir Pass | 9:55| 11:26| |

| Kovrov 1 | 12:15| 12:27| |

| Wjasniki | 13:07| 13:18| |

| Dzerzhinsk | 14:25| 15:00| |

| Gorkii Mosk | 15:45| 16:25| |

| Wetlushskaja | 18:20| 18:28| |

| Shahunia | 19:58| 20:25| |

| Kotelnitsch 1 | 22:01| 22:24| |

| Kirow Pass | 0:00| 0:57| |

| Suewka | 2:48| 2:53| |

| Jar | 3:45| 3:50| |

| Glazov(RU) | 4:20| 4:30| |

| Balesino | 4:57| 5:20| |

| Wereschagino | 7:17| 7:32| |

| Perm 2 | 9:25| 10:52| |

| Ferma | 11:21| 11:36| |

| Kungur | 13:01| 13:20| |

| Schalja | 15:23| 15:35| |

| Kusino | 16:34| 16:40| |

| Perwouralsk | 17:27| 17:39| |

| Swerdlowsk Pass | 19:37| 21:26| |

| Bashenowo | 22:26| 22:31| |

| Bogdanowitsch | 23:12| 23:33| |

| Elanskij | 0:02| 0:04| |

| Kamischlow | 0:24| 0:50| |

| Aksarikha | 1:10| 1:23| |

| Oschepkowo | 1:43| 2:00| |

| Taliza | 2:28| 2:53| |

| Juschala | 3:23| 3:36| |

| Tugulim | 3:59| 4:01| |

| Karmak | 4:22| 4:25| |

| Tjumen | 5:56| 7:47| |

| Ozero-andreevskoe | 8:13| 8:14| |

| Vinzili | 8:26| 8:28| |

| Bogandinskaya | 8:40| 8:42| |

| Jalutorowsk | 9:13| 9:39| |

| Sawodoukowskaja | 10:05| 10:41| |

| Novaya zaimka | 11:06| 11:20| |

| Wagaj | 11:46| 11:48| |

| Omutinskaja | 12:13| 12:33| |

| Golischmanowo | 13:10| 14:58| |

| Karasulskaya | 15:36| 15:38| |

| Bezrukovo | 16:02| 16:05| |

| Ischim | 16:25| 16:55| |

| Masljanskaja | 17:50| 18:18| |

| Nowoandreewskij | 18:38| 18:40| |

| Mangut | 18:59| 19:01| |

| Obg.punkt n46 | 19:20| 19:22| |

| Nasiwaewskaja | 19:42| 20:00| |

| Ljubinskaja | 21:00| 21:02| |

| Omsk | 21:50| 23:00| |

| Tatarskaja | 1:07| 1:20| |

| Tschani | 2:00| 2:10| |

| Kirzinskoe | 3:03| 3:05| |

| Barabinsk | 3:21| 3:50| |

| Ubinskaja | 4:51| 5:01| |

| Kargat | 5:35| 5:44| |

| Tschulimskaja | 6:15| 6:25| |

| Novosibirsk(RUS) | 7:53| 10:40| |

| Bolotnaja | 13:24| 13:34| |

| Taiga | 15:04| 15:57| |

| Mariinsk | 18:24| 18:54| |

| Tjashin | 19:48| 19:56| |

| Bogotol | 20:56| 21:06| |

| Achinsk 1 | 22:01| 22:31| |

| Kosulka | 23:37| 23:45| |

| Zeledeevo | 0:31| 0:36| |

| Krasnojarsk Pass | 1:43| 3:12| |

| Bazaikha | 3:40| 4:46| |

| Ujar | 6:33| 6:37| |

| Saosernaja | 7:16| 7:39| |

| Kansk-Enisejskij | 8:50| 9:13| |

| Ilanskaja | 9:46| 10:06| |

| Ingaschskaja | 10:40| 10:57| |

| Reschoti | 11:40| 11:52| |

| Tajshet | 13:05| 13:54| |

| Kuryat | 16:12| 16:29| |

| Nishneudinsk | 16:43| 17:42| |

| Tulun | 19:22| 19:32| |

| Kujtun | 20:45| 21:05| |

| Sima | 21:59| 22:34| |

| Deljur | 23:03| 0:45| |

| Salari | 1:12| 1:22| |

| Tscheremchowo | 2:19| 2:40| |

| Usole-Sibirskoe | 3:45| 4:10| |

| Angarsk | 4:43| 5:54| |

| Irkutsk-Sort | 6:31| 6:43| |

| Irkutsk Passajirskij | 6:57| 10:02| |

| Sljudjanka 1 | 12:21| 12:41| |

| Bajkalsk | 13:25| 13:30| |

| Widrino | 14:01| 14:16| |

| Tanchoj | 14:47| 15:01| |

| Misowaja | 15:56| 16:06| |

| Timljuj | 17:08| 17:23| |

| Selenga | 17:41| 17:56| |

| Ulan-Ude Pass | 19:09| 21:09| |

| Onochoj | 21:46| 21:51| |

| Saigraewo | 22:14| 22:19| |

| Petrowskij Sawod | 23:44| 0:22| |

| Bada | 2:07| 2:12| |

| Chilok | 3:04| 3:23| |

| Mogson | 5:16| 6:11| |

| Tschita 2 | 8:40| 9:50| |

| Karymskaia | 11:43| 12:20| |

| Solnzewaja | 14:12| 14:17| |

| Shilka-Passajirskai | 14:56| 15:14| |

| Priiskowaja | 16:02| 16:27| |

| Kuenga | 17:05| 17:15| |

| Tschernischewsk-Saba | 18:19| 18:52| |

| Silowo | 20:19| 20:33| |

| Ksenewskaja | 22:35| 22:45| |

| Mogocha | 0:37| 1:02| |

| Amasar | 2:38| 2:58| |

| Erofej Pavlovich | 4:51| 5:16| |

| Uruscha | 6:55| 7:09| |

| Tachtamigda | 8:12| 8:17| |

| Skoworodino | 9:06| 10:17| |

| Taldan | 11:51| 11:56| |

| Magdagatschi | 13:24| 13:54| |

| Daktuj | 14:29| 14:31| |

| Tigda | 14:59| 15:04| |

| Uschumun | 15:44| 15:58| |

| Schimanowskaja | 17:32| 17:52| |

| Swobodnij | 18:59| 19:14| |

| Serischewo | 19:49| 19:54| |

| Belogorsk | 20:16| 21:14| |

| Vozjaevka | 21:43| 21:48| |

| Ekaterinoslawka | 22:32| 22:34| |

| Zavitaia | 23:14| 23:28| |

| Bureia | 0:07| 0:22| |

| Archara | 1:13| 1:33| |

| Oblutsche | 3:23| 3:38| |

| Iswestkowaja | 4:35| 4:40| |

| Budukan | 5:35| 5:40| |

| Bira | 5:57| 6:07| |

| Birobidshan | 6:47| 7:17| |

| In(RUS) | 8:10| 8:15| |

| Chabarowsk 1 | 9:37| 13:23| |

| Werino | 14:27| 14:37| |

| Wjasemskaja | 15:31| 15:55| |

| Bikin | 17:33| 17:53| |

| Lutschegorsk | 18:34| 18:44| |

| Dalneretschensk 1 | 19:44| 19:54| |

| Rushino | 20:43| 20:58| |

| Lesozavodsk 1 | 21:10| 21:18| |

| Schmakowka | 21:49| 21:57| |

| Swijagino | 22:33| 22:41| |

| Spassk-Dalnij | 23:13| 23:28| |

| Mutschnaja | 0:08| 0:16| |

| Sibirzewo | 0:35| 0:50| |

| Ussuriisk | 2:04| 4:06| |

| Vladivostok | 6:25| | |

+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+





The train conveys many luggage through cars which are attached and detached
at different towns. Some of them run only once monthly and the car numbering
goes till 51. But only up to 25 of this cars run at the same time. In some
mail trains I have also seen one or two passenger cars, but as far as I know
passenger transportation is officially not possible in mail trains.

The webiste http://train.mza.ru, which provides online enquiry
about free places and prices of tickets in all long distance trains in most
of the former Soviet Union, does not show any free places in mail trains.



So far some information about trains in Russia - back to my trip: Our train
stops at Perm-2 (if there are two or more stations in one town, they are
sometimes numbered) from 10:25 till 10:48. The engineer uses the stop to
clean the windows. On the other track ChS7-321 with mail train 918:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...799/01_311.jpg



The station building:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_312.jpg



Perm is one of few stations on the Transsiberian railway, which is still a
little bit run-down. But I think, that renovation will soon take place also
here.



A view over the tracks:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_314.jpg



Train 92 continues it's trip:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_315.jpg



The track condition varies. Some parts are very new, but sometimes there are
only wooden sleepers lying in the sand. And sometimes both can be seen at
the same time:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_318.jpg

One track is new, the other still old.

The electrification pylons are usually not vertical.



We are approaching the Ural, the landscape becomes hilly:

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9333/01_323.jpg



Typical village houses:

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9900/01322bt7.jpg (L)



A nice section next to a river:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_331.jpg (L)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2479/01334jy0.jpg (L)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4985/01335oq0.jpg (L)





The Ural itself is not a big mountain range, just some nice hills.



A WL11 at a small station in the Ural:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...L11/01_338.jpg



Unfortunately I fall asleep right before we pass the obelisk, which marks
the border between Europa and Asia...



As we arrive at Jekaterinburg (the station itself is still called
Sverdvlovsk), I see this RIC sleeping car, which is used for the once weekly
through car Sverdlovsk - Berlin - Sverdlovsk:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ABm/01_349.jpg



Chs2 with train 71 "Demidovskij Ekspress" (Sverdlovsk - Sankt Peterburg)

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_351.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_352.jpg



After Jekaterinburg the landscape becomes quite flat and it will be flat
during the next 1600 kilometers till Novosibirsk.



Late in the evening we arrive at Tjumen:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_357.jpg



Accodring to Moscow and train time it's 22:30, but local time is already
1:30 - time to go to bed:





Friday 29th july 2006



The timetable for today:



+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+

| Ischim | 02:02 | 02:14 | |

| Nasiwaewskaja | 04:07 | 04:12 | |

| Ljubinskaja | 05:11 | 05:13 | |

| Omsk | 05:56 | 06:21 | |

| Kalatschinskaja | 07:20 | 07:22 | |

| Tatarskaja | 08:24 | 08:26 | |

| Barabinsk | 10:15 | 10:53 | |

| Tschulimskaja | 12:48 | 12:50 | |

| Novosibirsk(RUS) | 14:28 | 15:00 | |

| Bolotnaja | 17:03 | 17:05 | |

| Jurga 1 | 17:31 | 17:33 | |

| Jaschkino | 18:11 | 18:13 | |

| Taiga | 18:40 | 19:13 | |

| Ansherskaja | 19:44 | 19:46 | |

| Mariinsk | 21:18 | 21:40 | |

| Tjashin | 22:31 | 22:33 | |

| Bogotol | 23:37 | 23:40 | |

+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+





Me having breakfast on the train:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7941/01358yk1.jpg (L)



The landscape is quite flat....

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7453/01359jp5.jpg (L)



Barabinsk is the first long Stopp after breakfast.

Barabinsk is located half-way between Omsk and Novosibirsk and usually the
engines are exchanged here. Not because of different electrification
systems, but just because locomotives are only used on the tracks of the
railway subdivision to which they belong.





On the right our train, on the left the delayed train no. 31 (Novokuzneck -
Moskva):

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_363.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...tny/01_366.jpg



Train 31 has just left the stations when the next westbound train arrives:
Train no. 55 "Jenissej" (Krasnojarsk - Moskva), pulled by ChS2-217:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...799/01_367.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ant/01_368.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...iny/01_369.jpg



Our train will be pulled by Chs2-666 from Barabinsk onward:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...799/01_370.jpg



Some staff discusssions:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_371.jpg (L)



Here we also see an "old friend" - train no. 76 (Moskva - Tynda), which has
left Moscow half an hour after our train.

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...799/01_373.jpg



This parallel running of trains 76 and 92 only occurred in summer 2005.
Usually train 76 leaves Moscow on uneven dates and train 92 on even dates -
which means a daily train service till Severobajkalsk.

In summer 2005 train 92 however didn't ran every other day, but 4 times
weekly, leaving Moscow on monday, wednesday, friday and saturday. This way
there were days, when both trains ran and other days with no trains to
Severobajkalsk. Not very useful, therefore in 2006 train 92 again runs every
other day on that dates when train 76 does not run.



Luggage car in train 76:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...age/01_374.jpg



The section between Jekaterinburg and Novosibirsk seems to be the fastest on
the Transsiberian railway. Sometimes the train reaches 120 km/h, and the
ride can be quite bumpy, as the track condition isn't always perfect.



Small village in Western Siberia:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3075/01379th2.jpg (L)



Passing the station Kargat:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_380.jpg



Much landscape - the step of Barabinsk:

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5954/01_382.jpg (L)



On the late afternoon we arrive at Novosibirsk - which seems to be the
biggest or second-biggest (after Sverdlovsk) station between Moscow and
Vladivostok.



View at Novosibirsk:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_393.jpg (L)



Shortly before arriving at the station we cross the river Ob. The bridge is
only single-track, but there is an additional line around Novosibirsk, which
is used by freight trains. Without this bypass, the single-track bridge
would be a bgig problem regarding route capacity.



http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_394.jpg (L)

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_397.jpg (L)



Arrival at Novosibirsk Glavnyj:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_398.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...rsk/01_404.jpg



Our ChS2-666:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...799/01_407.jpg



Station Novosibirsk Glavnyj:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...rsk/01_409.jpg



Shortly before departure at 15:00 we see train 76 once more - it arrives
here at 14:50.



ChS2K-654 at the "Lokomotivnoe depo" Novosibirsk

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...S2K/01_413.jpg



The last picture of the day - stop at Tajga from 18:40 till 19:13 Moscow
time:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_419.jpg



Here our train is overtaken by two other trains: On the first hand by train
76, which stops here from 18:47 till 18:53. From now on it will run faster
than our train and will arrive at Severobajkalsk 2:48 earlier.

Also the "Jenissej" (train 56, Moskva - Krasnojarsk) overtakes us. It
departs here at 19:05. Eoght minutes later our train is finally allowed to
continue it's trip to the east.



But also our train sometimes overtakes another trains: At Izhmorskaja, about
1:15 after Tajga, we overtake train 84 (Novosibirsk - Krasnojarsk), which
has already been overtaken by trains 76 and 56 at this station.



At Mariinsk we have a loco-changing stop from 21:18 till 21:40. There we
once more see train 76 departing at 21:17 and train 56 departing at 21:27.



As you can see, the timetable of RZD on this trunk line is quite interesting
and very complicated. The different days of running makes it even more
complicated. For example in the actual tiumetable 2006/07 train 339
(Blagoveschchensk - Moskva) and 349 (Chita - Moskva) have a longer stop at
Usole-Sibirskoe, which is only necessary once weekly - to be overtaken by
the "Vostok" (train 19, Beijing - Moskva).



To be continued.

Saturday 30th july 2006


The timetable for today::


+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+
| Achinsk 1 | 00:39 | 00:42 | |
| Krasnojarsk Pass | 03:45 | 04:19 | |
| Kamartschaga | 05:46 | 05:48 | |
| Ujar | 06:34 | 06:36 | |
| Saosernaja | 07:09 | 07:11 | |
| Kansk-Enisejskij | 08:24 | 08:26 | |
| Ilanskaja | 08:57 | 09:20 | |
| Ingaschskaja | 09:52 | 09:54 | |
| Reschoti | 10:36 | 10:38 | |
| Tajshet | 11:46 | 12:16 | |
| Partschum | 13:45 | 13:46 | |
| Nowotschunka | 14:06 | 14:07 | |
| Sosnowie Rodniki | 14:22 | 14:24 | |
| Tschuna | 14:37 | 14:39 | |
| Wichorewka | 16:45 | 17:20 | |
| Ansebi | 17:47 | 17:51 | |
| Padunskie Porogi | 18:29 | 18:33 | |
| Gidrostroitel | 18:51 | 18:53 | |
| Sjuba | 19:21 | 19:23 | |
| Paschennij | 19:41 | 19:43 | |
| Keshemskaja | 20:08 | 20:10 | |
| Retschuschka | 20:44 | 20:46 | |
| Widim | 21:12 | 21:14 | |
| Sredneilimskaja | 22:24 | 22:26 | |
| Korschunicha-Angarsk | 22:49 | 23:09 | |
| Chrebtowaja | 23:39 | 23:41 | |
+-------------------------+--------+--------+----------+


Today we wake up at 3 a.m. Moscow time, which is already 7 a.m. local time.
One reason for getting up early is the bridge over the Jenissej at
Krasnojarsk, which we don't want to miss.

At the station Krasnojarsk:
Our train is pulled by a modern locomotive - EP1-067:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EP1/01_421.jpg

The station Krasnojarsk is currently being rebuilt. The old station building
has been demolished and a new one has been built in the same style as the
old one. Currently the platforms are renovated:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...rsk/01_423.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...rsk/01_422.jpg

Here we also see again train Zug 56 "Jenissej", he has overtaken us the day
before at Mariinsk and has now reached it destination.

We also meet another interesting train: The Chinese train no. 3 Beijung -
Moskva:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ne/...ght/01_424.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...rsk/01_425.jpg

Shortly bevor our departure EP1-018 arrives with train 657 Abakan -
Krasnojarsk:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EP1/01_427.jpg

The bridge over the Jenisseij, which is about 1 km long, is located east of
the station.
On this morning it's still foggy, when we approach the bridge:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_429.jpg

A local train:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_431.jpg

Then we cross the bridge:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_432.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...dge/01_434.jpg

I don't know what's the matter with the third bridge in the middle:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_441.jpg

Also at Google-Earth this third bridge (over three of six sections) can be
recognized:
http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/6...nojarsklv4.jpg

After the bridge the train runs throgh the outskirts of the
900.000-inhabitants-town, then we pass a hump yard:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_448.jpg

Here we see the 12-axle WL85 for the first time. This locomotive is pulling
heavy freight trains in Eastern Siberia. I haven't ever seen a WL85 in
Western Russia.
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_450.jpg

A small station:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_453.jpg

About 30 minutes after leaving Krasnojarsk a nice hulliy landscapes with
small villages and wooden houses appears next to the train tracks:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_458.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6315/01_459.jpg

Zaozernaja (7:09 till 7:11 MZ) is an interesting station, because here a
branch line, which isn't shown in the Russian railway atlas, starts. It
leads about 20 kilometers to Zelenogorsk (http://www.zeladmin.ru/).
Zelenogorsk is "closed town" because it locates industry, which produces
enriched uranium (offical website of the company:
http://www.ecp.ru/en/index.shtml). This twon has been built in 1956 and is
also known as "Krasnojarsk-45". Some kilometers in the north-west a similar
town exists: "Krasnojarsk-26" alias Zheleznogorsk. In "Krasnojarsk-26"
plutonium for nuclear weapons is produced - see
http://www.krasminatom.ru/enterprises/ghk/.

Access to bith towns is only possible for inhabitants or with special
permits. Two boys living in Krasnojarsk-45 are getting off at Zaozernaja -
it was quite interesting to talk with them.

Thanks to Google Earth we can have a look at Krasnojarsk-45:

The line to Krasnojarsk-45 branches off here (to the north, the line to the
south leads to a mine):
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1...zernajasb3.jpg

Checkpoint on the road to Krasnojarsk-45:
http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/4...jarsk45ho6.jpg

Some industry buildings:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5...dustrielr1.jpg

Our trip however continues to the Baikal lake. The trains runs between 70
and 100 km/h. Train traffic is lower than west of Novosibirsk, where he met
a train in the other direction every 5 minutes.

EP1-031 with a fast train (could be #239 Vladivostok - Moskva or #207
Vladivostok - Novokuznezk) between Ingashskaja and Reshoty.
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EP1/01_464.jpg

Our train:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_467.jpg

Some small stops (used only by local trains) have only a very short
platform, so that getting off is only possible from one or two cars. On such
elektrichkas I have also heard that it is announced via loudspeaker from
which car passengers can get off at such stops:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_468.jpg

I have also heard that it is possible to travel from Moscow to Vladivostok
using only local trains. But that takes much time, because on some sections
there are only 1 or 2 local trains per day.

Shortly before Tajshet we cross the river "Ona":
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...dge/01_470.jpg

Some lorries carrying wood at a level crossing:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_471.jpg

In Tajshet we leave the Transsiberian railway and we continue on the
Bajkal-Amur railway. The last section has been opened only in the 1980ies.

The line has been built because the region has many mineral resources and
also for strategic reasons - to have a second line to the east, which is not
so close to the Chinese border as the Transsiberian.

However, this route is new for me (I already travelled the Transsiberian
line to Irkutsk in 2002).

In Tajshet the locomotive is being exchanged. The EP1-067...
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EP1/01_472.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...EP1/01_473.jpg

....is replaced by WL80-1622:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...L80/01_475.jpg

Detail of the connection between the two parts of WL80:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...L80/01_477.jpg

WL85-215 rushing through the station with a long freight train:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_474.jpg

We leave Tajshet exceptionally with 10 minutes delay. An elektrichka:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ER9/01_481.jpg

Now on the BAM I have the feeling, that the land is even less populated and
lonelier. Villages are rare, endless forests are dominating the landscape.
The line is double-track, but traffic is quite low - maybe we meet one or
two other trains per hour.
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/01_487.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5783/01_493.jpg

The first stop after Tajshet is at Partshum - now we are running punctually
again (arr 13:46, dep 13:47 Moscow time).
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_497.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_496.jpg

A typical Siberian wooden house - with satellite TV:
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4839/01_498.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/690/01_499.jpg

14:01 Moscow time - station Novotschunka:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ght/01_507.jpg

14:16 Moscow time - small stop with wooden platform:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_510.jpg

14:21 Moscow time - station Sosnovye Rodniki:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_513.jpg

14:49 Moscow time - train #147 Severobajkalsk - Krasnojarsk at Chuna:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...L80/01_516.jpg

15:47 Moscow time - An elektrichka:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/01_521.jpg

Evening on the train:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/misc/02_006.jpg

At Vichorevka we have a longer stop (about 35 minutes). We have a walk on
the platform and buy some ice-cream at one of the kiosks.

One more elektrichka:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...ER9/02_007.jpg

Our WL80-1622:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...L80/02_008.jpg

View from the pedestrian bridge:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/02_009.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/02_011.jpg

At the platform:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...vka/02_013.jpg

An old conserved steam engine:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...isc/02_014.jpg

Train #92 leaving Vichorevka and continuing towards Bratsk:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...vka/02_016.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ru/...vka/02_017.jpg

Unfortunately it's already dark at Bratsk. In Bratsk the railway line
crosses the damn of the gigantic Bratsk hydroelectric plant. The station for
Bratsk is located a little bit outside the town at Anzebi (17:47 till 17:51
Moscow time - 22:47 till 22:51 local time).

After another short stop at Padunskie Porogi we cross the dam.

The dam dduring daylight:
http://www.bratsk-city.ru/content/ga...sk-45/45-1.jpg (Photo from
http://www.bratsk-city.ru).

The damn from above:
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/408/bratskgt4.jpg

After this "event" it's time for sleeping, the last night oin the train is
coming.

To be continued.

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