Re: NG in the Urals

Here is what I have found about this line from my lousy Russian skills. The name of the line is The Alapaevskih Narrow Gauge Railway (AUZHD) and operates out of Alapayevsk, Severdovsk Region. The article also says that it once was over 500km in length, but by 2006 it was down to only 270km. The gauge is The Russian narrow gauge standard of 750mm.

The line is now a historical and technical monument, and dose continue to operate regular passenger trains,since it is the only outside link to a few very remote villages. I may head up there this summer, since I live only about ten hours away.

The two locomotives pictured in the article is a TU4, the green one. These were the ones that replaced steam in the mid 1950s. The TU7 is what replaced the TU4. I think they are both diesel hydro.

To reach this area, take the Trans-Sib to Yekaterinburg and go north by bus. I am not to sure about rail service on the national network to that isolated area. This is also the area where the bolshiviks hid the bodies of the Czar's family.

In the last 10 years Russia has lost a lot of its narrow gauge. The extensive systems of peat moss haulers in the Moscow area are all gone. There is still a little near Tver and a logging line in the Volgoda region.

There are still some regular narrow gauge lines operating in Western Ukraine using TU2 diesel electrics.

In most of Russia's larger cities there are Children's, or Pioneer Railways. These are part of the national Rail system and are operated as a training facility by kids age 8 to 14 with adult supervision. Ony two have steam, Nitzi Novogarad,and Rostov on Don. Steam is only used once or twice a year. These lines are kept as state of the art with concrete ties, heavy rail and ballast, signaling, and new equiptment.



Cheers
Dirk


The two photos are of the Children's line here in Ufa, Russia



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2011 09:41AM by Dirk Ramsey.