|
Alex Malianov sent me the following information in 2011, I apologise for
sitting on it, but I needed time to work through it. There is little or no
'new' information here, but I think it is likely that this is the first time
such a summary has been available in English. It makes a fascinating
read and I hope it will inspire some readers to go and check things out on
the ground. Most of the links are in Russian, but Google
Translate will do a fair job.
Necessarily this information will go out of date as the narrow gauge in
Russia is in decline as it is everywhere else. I would be happy to receive
updates even if they are 'bad news'. By and large I have left shorter links
visible, but longer ones have been 'hidden' from sight although they are
readily available from a right mouse click in your browser. Please be aware
that the parovoz.com website is extremely slow and often you will get a timeout
message from your browser.
This survey is part of a series of pages on non-steam Narrow Gauge Railways round the World.
A few of these railways run public passenger trains, Alex has sent a
list of these services as of November 2016, (updated 17th March 2017). I
am pleased to say that Mark Torkington has taken up the implied challenge
and visited a number of them, he has sent me some pictures which I have appended
to the original list (23rd October 2019).
For those interested in visiting one or more of these railways then this
specialist tour operator may be the answer - http://www.poezdnaprokat.ru/
The organisation specialises in tours to the Alapaevskaya
forestry narrow
gauge railway, Russia's longest (added 31st August 2014).
Important - my
editor is not sympathetic to Russian characters and if you find a link which
doesn't work, please tell me and I will try to correct it...
However, the number of reported broken links here is so great that I have
given up their maintenance (29th October 2017)
As of April 2015, Sergey Bolashenko's
site http://sbchf.narod.ru/ has migrated to http://infojd.ru/,
I have changed the links as advised but have not checked them exhaustively.
By December 2021, I found these new links failing en masse...
Working Railways
Andrey Ilin suggests that these links cover working /
active forestry railways in the country, many of those listed below being
moribund or since closed (16th April 2015).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyginskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udimskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelennikovskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
And here is a further list of such lines (12th September:
2015)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobrinskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konetsgorskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyubskaya_narrow_gauge_railway
Updates to original information
Engineering Works: (30th May
2012)
The Kambarka Engineering Works specializes in the manufacture of track machines, traction and rolling stock for railways "narrow" gauge (750 mm ÷ 1067 mm). Plant
is ready to produce all types of freight wagons, locomotives, mobile power stations.
Traditionally Its wagons were used to transport peat and logs, but it also
builds general freight wagons, platform wagons, passenger wagons, track
maintenance vehicles etc, as well as spare parts for them.
Website: http://zavod-kmz.ru (link dead by 12th April 2018), especially
new products http://zavod-kmz.com/mproducts.html.(link dead by 12th April 2018)
Wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambarka_Engineering_Works,
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maschinenfabrik_Kambarka
(German) http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambarskie_Zak%C5%82ady_Mechaniczne
(Polish) and http://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambarkai_G%C3%A9pgy%C3%A1r
(Hungarian)
This page owes a vote of thanks to the great researcher Sergey Bolashenko
and his website http://infojd.ru/ (website
moved by April 2015), and also
these websites http://pereyezd.ru/, http://parovoz.com,
http://ru_uzd.livejournal.com/
and others. Some railways are not listed, they are mostly railways underground. On the links there are reports and photos.
For those specifically interested in modern motive power and rolling
stock, this YouTube clip is a collection of stills from narrow.parovoz.com
showing them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm-CdqlFaBc
(added 1st August 2012).
Links to
Bolashenko's website lead to pages that usually contain links to a lot of photos ( "Фотографии…").
Also there is detail information on Russian about narrow gauge and low-activity railways in former USSR. Bolashenko`s e-mail:
sbchf@yandex.ru).
http://parovoz.com - look for the narrow
gauge link, encyclopedia of narrow gauge railways made by Dmitry Zinoviev (e-mail:
dzinoviev@gmail.com), by using a lot of people. At page
http://narrow.parovoz.com/newgallery
there are new photos of NGRs added daily.
http://ru_uzd.livejournal.com
is livejournal community about narrow gauge railways.
http://pereyezd.ru and http://uzd.spb.ru
are websites of groups of railway enthusiasts-researchers.
http://dzd-ussr.ru is a website about
children's railways made by Dmitry Sutiagin (e-mail: railways@postman.ru).
There is a Wikipedia
Russian language page with a further list, I have not attempted to cross
check it with that below (link changed 13th May 2013).
A
forum page of the French metre gauge is, perhaps, a surprising source of
information, but it also includes links to a number of You Tube videos
(added 16th July 2012). The same page lists suggestions for tourist visits
to such systems:
Those with a serious interest in the subject should consider obtaining
the two volume set Russian Narrow Gauge Diesel and Electric Locomotives
- http://www.semaphore.ru/eng/EDITIONS/BOOKS/bo.htm - link dead by 26th
April 2014.
They are fully bilingual in English and Russian (unlike the earlier steam
version - http://www.semaphore.ru/eng/EDITIONS/BOOKS/mo.htm - link dead by
26th April 2014
- which now seems to be a collector's item), added 16th July 2012.
The main locomotive types are covered in Wikipedia (13th May 2013):
Information on rolling stock is available (24th July 2013):
The following YouTube channels have coverage:
Andrey Ilin (who provided the new links
above also mentions that surplus ng equipment is for sale - see http://vyatkatorf.ru/Prezent%
202012-07-01.pptx and http://vyatkatorf.ru/realiz02.
html (both (link dead by 12th April 2018, Russian language), added 16th July 2012.
Reports from Winter 2011/2 (Links from
Alex Malianov (16th July 2012):
General Information
The gauge of all narrow gauge railways (NGRs) is 750 mm, unless otherwise stated.
Forestry NGRs survive mainly in Russian North (European part): in Arkhangelsk, Vologda
and Kirov oblasts. In Siberia just one remains. They represent about 10% of
former Soviet forestry NGRs, their length has been reduced and in the near future they will
all close.
Peat NGRs have always been mainly west of the Urals. Many of them were a large networks, managed by transport departments. Now there are some short railways. In the near future peat NGRs in
the Russian Federation will be dismantled too. But such NGRs survive and new
ones are being built in in Belarus.
Peat and forestry narrow gauge railways are often "anarchic", usually it is possible to travel inside locomotives or on own light
draisine, in sum - a very pleasant atmosphere.
All common carrier narrow gauge railways have been lost.
However, in Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania there are several common carrier NGRs,
which are protected by the state.
NGR for sugar beet carrying have all disappeared.
However, most of the mining, quarry and local factory NGRs are likely to
survive for some time to come.
Children's railways (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_railways) in
the Russian Federation will be saved. In recent years several of these railways
have been built, others have been reconstructed. They work generally only in summer
and then not every day.
02nd Region Bashkortostan Republic
There were several very interesting narrow gauge railways.
The Beloretsk narrow gauge railway (now closed), one of the most
grandiose railways in Russia. It was a large common carrier system, built at the beginning of
the 20th century (1909-1912). The main line went from Katav-Ivanovsk (Zaprudovka) via Tirlian to Beloretsk
(Location Wikimapia link).
The line between Beloretsk and Tukan opened in 1924, followed ca 1930 by the line to Inzer. The railway served
the Beloretsk metallurgical plant. It transported iron ore, coal, timber,
limestone and had a passenger service. The railway was the main transport artery of
the Beloretsk area. The railway had very unusual carriages. The first section of main line was
closed in 1967 and it was dismantled in 2007.
Another large network in Bashkortostan was the Yaman-Yelginskaya forestry narrow gauge railway
(now closed). It was
laid through the valleys of South Urals from Krasny Kliuch (location Wikimapia link) to Atniash (location
Wikimapia link).
Yaman-Yelginskaya NGR was dismantled in 2010.
Ufa Children's Railway
Amzia, NGR of timber-processing factory
Location: Wikimapia
Link
The links below are reported to contain a virus (12th April 2018)
http://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_88.jpghttp://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_89.jpghttp://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_90.jpg
- Sergey Bolashenko`s photos
03rd region - Buryatia Republic
The longest forestry narrow gauge railway was Handagatayskaya NGR - 260km from Novoilyinsk to
Zaza.
This NGR was dismantled about 10 years ago.
http://infojd.ru/26/novoilyinsk_karta01.jpg (link
dead by 25th October 2016) - map
11th Region - Komi Republic
Sysol'skaya forestry NGR
It goes west from Pervomayskiy (location Wikimapia
link). Current status unknown.
Viozdinskaya forestry NGR
It goes north-west from Ilya-Shor (location Wikimpia
link).
The railway has been closed, but local people goes by light draisines to the forest. There is a bridge in disrepair
( http://www.pereyezd.ru//images/photoalbum/album_78/photo_2950.jpg link
dead by April 2015), perhaps it has already fallen. Current
status unknown.
- http://infojd.ru/04/ilia-chor.html
- on Bolashenko's site (link broken by July 2020)
- http://www.pereyezd.ru//photogallery.php?album_id=78&rowstart=216
link dead by April 2015
- Pereyezd
team's photos (pages 16-19).
Smolianskaya forestry NGR
It goes south from Smolianka (location Wikimapia
link). The railway has been closed, but local people go by light
draisines to the forest.
Sindorskaya penal servitude forestry NGR
It goes south-east from Sindor (location Wikimapia
link) to Lokchim (Glubinka), where there is settlement of convicts, and
further. Perhaps, the railway has already closed.
14th region - Mari El Republic
NGR of Ronga peat works
Location: Wikimapia
link
15th region - North Ossetia-Alania Republic
Vladikavkaz (Small North-Caucasian) Children's Railway named
after woman-cosmonaut V.V. Tereshkova.
There is a circular railway with two stations - Vechny Ogon` ("eternal flame") and Vodnaya Stantsiya ("water station").
Location: Wikimapia
link
16th region - Tatarstan Republic
NGR of Zelenodolsk railway sleepers impregnation plant
- http://infojd.ru/12/zeliony_dol.html (link broken by July
2020)
Kazan Children's Railway
It is one of the newest narrow gauge railways in Russia, built in 2007.
Location: Wikimapia
link
The railway works only in summer. You can get there by buses 13, 17, 36, 46, 48, 72 from different parts of city (from railway terminal - 48 and 72) to stop "Posiolok Zalesny" or by
suburban train to stop Yudino (Vostochny Park).
18th region - Udmurtia Republic
The last NGR in this republic belongs to Orlovskoe peat works
22nd Region - Altai Krai
Salt carrying NGR in Stepnoe Ozero
NGR of Beloyarskiy mast impregnation plant
23rd Region - Krasnodar Krai
Apsheronskaya forestry NGR (latest additional
information and YouTube video 3rd January 2020)
There was a large network of forestry lines, which went through the Caucasus
mountains. Now there are just two lines: 1) Chernigovskaya - Shpalorez (Otdalionny) with a branch to Kushinka and 2) Guamka -
Mezmay.
Maps http://sharemap.org/public/Apsheronskaya_narrow_gauge_railway#!flash
and Chernigovskoye
(Start Point railway)
(added 13th May 2013).
The Chernigovskaya - Shpalorez railway is a very beautiful line going through
a deep valley with steep slopes. There are (still, 2015) timber-carrying and passenger trains. The schedule of passenger train: Chernigovskaya - Shpalorez 7.00, 19.00; Shpalorez - Chernigovskaya 4.00, 15.00.
Locomotives and cars:
The Guamka - Mezmay railway is a section of east line Apsheronskaya NGR. It goes through
a deep
canyon and for the first several kilometres there is a tourist train.
30th May 2012 update from Andrey Ilin, more links:
4th January 2012 video suggestion by Kisvsaut
24th July 2013 many further links suggested by
Andrey Ilin
TU8P-№0005
Rail lorry
TU6P-№0053
Apsheronrailway 2013:photos by Dmitry Tsirkunov
YouTube Video (8th May 2015)
NGR in Gelendzhik
Perhaps the railway has been dismantled.
NGR of Tikhoretsk railway sleepers impregnation plant.
24th Region - Krasnoyarsk Krai
Krasnoyarsk Children's Railway
This is the oldest one in the Russian Federation (opened 1st August
1936). It has gauge of 508mm and unique locomotives and cars.
Location: Wikimapia
link
Norilsk, remains of electrified NGR on Medvezhiy Ruchey mine
Norilsk, NGR of copper plant
25th Region - Primorskiy Krai
Tetiukhinskaya ore-carrying NGR
The railway connected Dalnegorsk town (location Wikimapia
link) with Rudnaya Pristan harbour (location Wikimapia
link). Now there is a 5-km long mining line.
Undergroung railway of Vostok-2 tungsten (wolfram) mine
Vladivostok funicular has gauge of 1200 mm (?)
http://metropost.ru/funiculars/vlade.html
link dead by October 2014
26th region - Stavropol Krai
Pyatigorsk tramway has gauge of 1000 mm
27th region - Khabarovsk Krai
Khabarovsk (Small Far-East) Children's Railway
Location:
Wikimapia
link
28th Region - Amur Oblast
Svobodny Children's Railway
This is the longest one in ex-USSR, just on ~100
metres shorter than Budapest children's railway. Location: Wikimapia
Link
On this railway there is the first TU2 locomotive http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU28/20100829_133005.jpg
NGR of Ushumun railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location: Wikimapia
Link
29th Region - Arkhangelsk Oblast
Andrey Ilin has sent me the following links (16th July 2012) for this
Oblast, there may be some duplication with those below, but with the low
speed of the "paovoz.com" site, I don't have the patience to
check.
Lepshinskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Lepsha (location Wikimapia
link) to east. Lines are replete with ascents and descents. The railway is not
working now, and
it's possible it will be lifted soon…
Locomotives: TU6A, TU8, TU8G ( http://www.pereyezd.ru/images/photoalbum/album_111/026.jpg
), snowplough DM-48 (http://www.pereyezd.ru/images/photoalbum/album_111/024.jpg)
Ivakshanskaya forestry NGR.
It goes east from Ivaksha (location Wikimapia
link).
The railway is still working. There are some freight (timber-carrying) trains and a passenger train for workers in the mornings on weekdays.
Locomotives: TU6A, TU8, TU8G (http://www.pereyezd.ru/images/photoalbum/album_111/118.jpg)
Kudemskaya forestry NGR (ex-forestry, now - only for passenger service)
Locomotives: TU8.
From Severodvinsk (Vodogon station, location Wikimapia
Link) via Beloe Ozero to Palozero and further to south. There are beautiful northern landscapes.
Passenger train Vodogon - Beloe Ozero departs at 16.00 (Saturday), 17.00 (Monday,
Wednesday, Friday), 18.30 (sunday). Passenger train Beloe Ozero - Vodogon departs at 8.00 (Monday,
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), 16.30 (Sunday). There are 1 or 2 wooden open cars in the train in summer.
Between Beloe Ozero and Palozero people ride on little motocars or draisines (pionerkas).
30th May 2012 update from Andrey Ilin
In August 2011, the site appeared http://www.forbes.ru
rating of "10 most beautiful railway routes of the planet." Yes, it's impressive! The world's fastest trains between Tokyo and Osaka. Rhaetian Railway in the Alps with spiral tunnels and viaduct Landvasser five arched pillars 65 meters high The world's longest train of 220 wagons, which carries ore from Africa to the port of Nouadhibou (Mauritania). Next - Canada, China, France, Spain, Mexico, Norway. A first in the list means ... Kudemskaya narrow-gauge railway in the vicinity of the North
Dvina!
Now the railway administration has bought a new railcar - http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/33206/
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTHgEJ6l7mQ&feature=youtu.be
(13th May 2013).
Lipakovskaya forestry NGR
There is a passenger service, from Lipakovo (Wikimapia
link) to the west via Luzhma to Seza. There are 2 settlements in taiga on railway, and therefore it can not be closed before its
resettlement. There is a cargo-passenger train and some freight trains.
Locomotives: TU6A, TU7, TU8, snowplough, crane (http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU29/20080211_13744.jpg),
autodraisine (http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU29/20070624_9500.jpg)
The schedule of cargo-passenger train:
- from Lipakovo to Seza at [10.00 and 18.00] - Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- from Seza to Lipakovo at [6.30 and 15.00] - Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Loiginskaya forestry NGR
Very large network. It goes from Loiga (location Wikimapia
link) to south-west, to the settlements of Kontorka (Sulonga), Sheveliovka, Aiga, Voschar. Now it is in
the process of a slow death, a lot of branches have been destroyed and there is little freight traffic.
Locomotives: TU6A, TU6D, TU6P (http://infojd.ru/08/loiga201.jpg), TU7, TU8, ESU-2A.
(link broken by July 2020)
Kizemskaya forestry NGR.
It goes south from Kizema (location Wikimapia
link). Current status unknown.
Udimskaya forestry NGR.
It goes south from Udima (location Wikimapia
link). Current status unknown.
- Parovoz
website link - photos
- http://infojd.ru/03/udima.html
- on Sergey Bolashenko's site (link broken by July 2020)
- http://infojd.ru/03/udima_karta02.jpg
- map (link broken by July 2020)
Niubskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Kharitonovo (location Wikimapia
link) to north, to the settlement of Kvasha (Slobodskoy). Length is 72km. The
track is in bad condition, trains often go off the rails, there is no money to repair
the railway. There is a passenger train several times a month.
Locomotives: TU6A, TU8, TU6D (with details from other locomotives, http://www.pereyezd.ru/showphoto.php?photo_id=801
), destroyed Finnish steam crane (http://www.pereyezd.ru/showphoto.php?photo_id=794).
Kulikovskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Kulikovo (location Wikimapia
link) to north-west. Current status unknown, most likely it is still
working.
Locomotives: TU6A, TU8, TU6D (unusual), ESU-2A (unusual).
Avniugskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Avniug to Poperechka (Soiga) settlement. A passenger train departs from Avniug to Soiga at [6.00 and 17.00]
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, it goes back 1.5 hours later. Near Soiga there is an ancient wooden monastery.
Moving equipment: diesel locomotives TU6A, TU8, TU6D (unusual), TU6SP (unusual), TU7 (unusual, too heavy for the tracks), ESU-2A (unusual).
-
Parovoz
website link - photos
- http://infojd.ru/03/avnuga.html
- on Sergey Bolashenko's site (link broken by October 2014)
- http://infojd.ru/03/avnuga_karta02.jpg
- map (link broken by October 2014)
Zelennikovskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Zelennik (location Wikimapia
link) to north-east. The railway is still working.
Locomotives: TU4, TU6A, TU7A, TU8, automotrice AM1 (unusual), crane (http://narrow.parovoz.com/newgallery/pg_view.php?ID=134703&LNG=RU)
- Parovoz
website link - photos
- http://infojd.ru/03/zelennik.html
- on Sergey Bolashenko's site (link broken by October 2014)
- http://infojd.ru/03/zelennik_karta02.jpg
- map (link broken by October 2014)
Konetsgorskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Rochegda (location Wikimapia
link) to north-east. The railway is still working, the Pystroma settlement
has been evicted.
Locomotives: TU6 (unusual, http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU29/20101223_134917.jpg), TU6A, TU7, TU7A, TU6SPA
(http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU29/20110113_135184.jpg)
32nd Region - Bryansk Oblast
NGR of Navlia railway sleepers impregnation plant.
Location Wikimapia
link
33rd Region - Vladimir Oblast
Pereslavl Museum has acquired a GMD4 rail lorry from the peat NGR at Mezinovskiy
http://www.kukushka.ru/english/events/2013-19-03.html
(13th May 2013).
Gusevskoye Peat NGR near Gus-Hrustalny.
34th Region - Volgograd Oblast
Volgograd Children's Railway
Location: Wikimapia
link
In 1948-1979 there was another children's railway with gauge of 600 mm which ran along the grand embankment close the river terminal.
NGR of Sarepta railway sleepers impregnation plant
35th Region - Vologda Oblast
Semigorodnaya forestry NGR
It goes from Semigorodnaya (location Wikimapia
link) to east. Several years ago it was one of the longest NGRs (115km). Now its
length is just 28km. There are settlements at the 6th km, 17th km,
Tomashka. The railway is still in use, there are some freight trains on weekdays.
Mitinskaya NGR
Ex-forestry, there is a passenger service. It goes from Kadnikovsky (location
Wikimapia
link) to north-west. Several years ago the length of the railway was about 100km, now just 16km to Yakhrenga settlement. Very nice railway. There is a cargo-passenger train,
its schedule unknown. The railway will be destroyed soon.
Belorucheyskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Depo (Bely Ruchey, location Wikimapia
link) settlement to the north, to Yanishevo (location Wikimapia
link) settlement, 63km length.
There is very intensive traffic of freight trains every day and a passenger train Depo - Yanishevo.
Its schedule: From Depo to Yanishevo at 18.00 Friday (?), 01.00 Monday; it goes back at 05.00
Monday.
The automobile road to Yanishevo will be built soon. After that the railway will be destroyed…
Brusenetskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Igmas (location Wikimapia
link) to south-east. The railway has been closed. Dmitry Adamsky said, there
is some traffic of little draisines (pionerkas). These draisines belongs to local people who go to hunt or for berries.
Piatovskaya forestry NGR
The rails were removed by thieves, because of this a freight train crashed
and the railway was forced to close. In 2009, Dm. Adamskiy said, there was a
short section from Krutaya Osyp' to Sonduga river, it used by local people who defended this section. Current
status unknown.
Location - Wikimapia
link
Gorbachiovskaya forestry NGR
Goes north from Smorodinka (Teshemlia broad-gauge station, location Wikimapia
link).
Several years ago its length was 70 km, the railway reached Koloshma station, where was timber storage. Automobiles had brought timber there, then it had gone to Smorodinka by railway.
Perhaps, the railway has been dismantled.
Kamenskaya forestry NGR.
It goes from Kamenka (location Wikimapia
link) settlement on the branch of broad-gauge forestry Monzenskaya railway
(http://infojd.ru/18/monza.html,
http://infojd.ru/18/monza_karta02.jpg) to north-east. Perhaps it
is still working.
NGR of Sokol pulp and paper mill
Location Wikimapia
link
NGR of Kharovsk railway sleepers impregnation plant.
Access to the plant forbidden. Sergey Bolashenko climbed over the fence!
http://infojd.ru/22/harovsk-chpz.html (link broken
5th April 2019)
In Kharovsk there is a monument - steam locomotive Kch4-276, which worked in this plant.
It was erected thanks to the civic stance of a former head of the plant.
Location - Wikimapia
link
36th Region - Voronezh Oblast
Liski Children's Railway
This railway works all the year (but children work only in summer) on
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 12.30 to 20.00.
37th Region - Ivanovo Oblast
NGR of Ivanovo silicate plant
There is an electrified railway from plant (location Wikimapia
link) to quarry. It has 2 tracks.
38th Region - Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk (Small East-Siberian) Children's Railway.
Location: Wikimapia
link There was another children's railway in Irkutsk city, in
the 1980s it was moved to Islands Yunost (Youth) and Konny (Horsey).
This railway usually works from May 9 to August 31 on Wednesdays,
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays.
NGR of Taishet railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location: Wikimapia
link
39th Region - Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad tramway has gauge of 1000mm.
42nd Region - Kemerovo Oblast
Kemerovo Children's Railway
One of the newest children's railways.
Location: Wikimapia
link
43rd Region - Kirov Oblast
For a German language 2010 visit report see http://tiger-rag.com/blog/2010/01/17/neues-von-russischen-schmalspurbahnen/
((link dead by 12th April 2018, added 16th July 2012)
Andrey Ilin has sent me the following links (16th July 2012) for this
Oblast, there may be some duplication with those below, but with the low
speed of the "paovoz.com" site, I don't have the patience to
check.
Anikinskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Lalsk town, Tavrichesky settlement (location Wikimapia
link) to east.
Piniugskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Piniug (location Wikimapia
link) to north-east on the mound of broad gauge railway to Syktyvkar, whose construction was
only begun and never completed.
Poushemskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Poushma (location Wikimapia
link) to east. Current status unknown.
Lundanskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Lundanka (location Wikimapia
link) to east.
Oparinskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Oparino (Опарино,
location Wikimapi
link) to Ula and further to the north-east.
Kobrinskaya forestry NGR
Sergey Bolashenko and S. Kostygov consider this railway is the best forestry railway in Russia. Despite the problems of the past two decades, the railway works like in
the (former) USSR.
This line goes north-east from Bezbozhnik (location Wikimapia
Link)
Original locomotives:
Oktiabrskaya forestry NGR
It goes from Oktiabrskiy (location Wikimpia
link) to west. Current status unknown
- http://infojd.ru/12/oktyabrsk.html (link broken by July 2020)
- http://infojd.ru/12/oktyabrsk_karta02.jpg
- map (link broken by July 2020)
Dubrovskaya forestry railway
It goes from Dubrovka (location Wikimapia link
) to south. Current status unknown.
Sozimskaya (Nyrmychskaya) forestry NGR
It goes from Sozimskiy (location Wikimapia link
) to Nyrmych-4 colony of convicts.
There is MD54-4 (http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU43/20080902_117404.jpg)
Karinskaya peat NGR
The railway located in Kirovo-Chepetsk town (location Wikimapia link
). It's the only reliable road to Karintorf part of town. There are 3 or 4 couple of passenger
trains, they are confirmed to run until 2014..
In the past this railway was one of the most progressive and powerful narrow gauge
railways, now in Spring 2012. the thermoelectric plant in Kirovo-Chepetsk was converted from peat to
gas and by April 2012 the railway is reported as being dismantled. In
particular, the line connecting peat fields near Oktyabrskiy with Karintorf has been dismantled. In this way there formed a little isolated NGR near
Oktyabrskiy (July 2012).
NGR of Otvorskoye peat works (Yezhikha and Svetly settlement)
Location: Wikimapia link
NGR of Gorokhovskoye peat works (Igotino village)
Location: Wikimapia link
NGR of Pischalskoe peat works (Maradykovskiy (Mirny) settlement)
Location: Wikimapia link
There are GMD4 (http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU43/20070312_8160.jpg) , fire
draisine (http://narrow.parovoz.com/gallery/RU43/20070220_7827.jpg)
NGR of Dymnoe peat works (Svetlopoliansk settlement)
Location: Wikimapia link
44th Region - Kostroma Oblast
Uzhugskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes north-east from Uzhuga (Ужуга,
location Wikimapia link). Current status unknown.
Leninskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes north from Gagarino (Гагарино,
location Wikimapia link). In 2011 the railway
was being dismantled.
Kolnogorskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes north-east from Talitsa (Талица,
location Wikimapia link).
The railway was working in 2011.
45th Region - Kurgan Oblast
Kurgan Children's Railway, rebuilt In 2011.
47th Region - Leningrad Oblast
NGR of Pavlovo building materials plant.
The railway is electrified. One of locomotives: http://infojd.ru/12/pavlovon2006_07.jpg
Location: Wikimapia link
Access to the plant is forbidden. Sergey Bolashenko went there without
permission..
NGR of Leningradskaya slate mine
Location: Wikimapia link
The mine did not work in 2010 or the beginning of 2011.
- http://infojd.ru/12/slantsy-ujd.html (link broken by July 2020)
NGR of Leningradskiy mast impregnation plant
Location: Wikimapia link
The plant is planned to close.
NGR of Gladkoe (now - Agrotorf) peat works.
Location: Wikimapia link
NGR of Pelgorskoe peat works
Location: Wikimapia link
Repolskaya forestry NGR
Location: Wikimapia link
Current status unknown
Kurgalskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes north from Yefimovskiy (Ефимовский,
location Wikimapia link)
Current status unknown.
Peat Railway at Krasava ('Laryan')
48th Region - Lipetsk Oblast
NGR of Lipetsk silicate products plant
Electrified, sand is transported.
Location: Wikimapia link
50th Region - Moscow Oblast
Small Moscow Children's Railway
Located in Kratovo, Wikimapia link
The railway works from June to August on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays.
You can get there by suburban train to stops Otdyh (located close to
children's railway) or Kratovo.
Zaraysk brickyard NGR
There was a little electrified narrow gauge railway with unique locomotives.
Location: Wikimapia link
Perhaps, in 2011 there are locomotive skeletons…
Riazanovka
Peat-carrying narrow gauge railway has been dismantled. There is a monument - steam locomotive
VP-4
(now gone to Ekaterinburg, restored for the Children's Railway).
Location: Wikimapia
link
Klin, railway tracks of Klinstroydetal brickyard
There are two tracks with trolleys and electric "pushers". Gauge is 900 mm.
Location: Wikimapia
link
51st Region - Murmansk Oblast
NGR in Karnasurt mine of loparite ore. The gauge is 600 mm. Location: Wikimapia link
This electrified railway is located almost entirely underground. Many people who go
trekking to Seidozero lake can see this railway. Current
status unknown.
Mining electric locomotives
The link below is reported to contain a virus (12th April 2018)
(http://leoshome.narod.ru/travel/2004/hibi_Sergin/photoview/data/pepelatz.jpg
).
- http://infojd.ru/29/karnasurt.html
- on Sergey Bolashenko's site (link broken by October 2014)
NGR in Rasvumchorr mine (location Wikimapia link) of apatite-nepheline ore.
Current
status unknown.
Mining electric locomotives (http://infojd.ru/29/rasvumtchorr2008_06.jpg)
- http://infojd.ru/29/rasvumtchorr.html
- on Sergey Bolashenko's site (link broken by October 2014)
52nd Region - Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
See Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizhny_Novgorod_Oblast#Transportation
for 4 maps (added 13th May 2013).
Nizhny Novgorod (Small Gorky) children's railway.
Now it has 3 stations in the corners of a triangle. There is a usable steam locomotive
Kp-4-430, which works on June1 and on the
City's day (the last weekend of August).
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Kalikino railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location:
Wikimapia link
Salt-carrying NGR of Dzerzhinsk plant Kaprolaktam.
Location:
Wikimapia link
Mine NGR of Peshelan gypsum factory.
The railway has a large underground network and short surface line, they are connected by
a sloping
tunnel with a cable incline with trolleys. This is now a mining museum (13th
May 2013).
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Kulebaki metallurgical plant
Gauge is 1067 mm. Current status unknown.
Location:
Wikimapia link
Two peat-carrying narrow gauge railways in Bolshie Orly (location
Wikimapia link)
and Kerzhenets (location
Wikimapia link)
- fragments of a giant narrow gauge railway network of Gorkiy industrial railway transport enterprise.
NGR of Altsevskoe peat works in Pizhma
Location:
Wikimapia link
Pizhemskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes south from Pizhma. Current status unknown.
Location:
Wikimapia link
Penal servitude forestry NGR going south from Burepolom
Current status unknown.
Location:
Wikimapia link
53rd Region - Novgorod Oblast
Forestry NGR in Knevitsy.
Located here: Wikimapia link
There are two main lines. Southern line has extensive network, now it works, but things look
black.
Northern line is more old, now it is no longer connected with southern line. Local people goes to
the marshes for berries on light draisines (pionerkas). Some years ago there was attempt to disassemble the rails unlawfully, for delivery of scrap metal. Thieves managed to
take out about 1km, and local people went on the warpath. They defended the railway, and laid wooden rails instead of steel. Now the line again under dismantling…
Locomotives: TU6A, TU6SPA (http://infojd.ru/07/knevitsy03.jpg (link broken
by July 2020)), locomotive, converted to motrice
(http://infojd.ru/07/knevitsy05.jpg (link broken by July 2020)), ESU2A
(http://www.ljplus.ru/img3/m/a/malianov/100_0010-s.JPG
), snowplough (http://infojd.ru/07/knevitsy13.jpg (link broken by July 2020))
NGR of Tyosovo (Tesovo) peat works and associated railway
museum: (updated 27th November 2014
Location: Wikimapia
link:
There are ESU2A, TU6P.
In Soviet Union times this was a large network. It served some peat fields. Now natural gas becomes a main fuel for thermoelectric plants, and there are
no consumers of peat.
Now there are about 10km line. On this railway a group of young railway enthusiasts from St Petersburg repair the tracks and participate in railway work.
See also:
NGR of Kushaveratorf peat works
Location: Wikimapia link
Locomotives: TU6A, TU6D, TU6P, ESU2A.
NGR of Borovichi plant of construction materials.
Location:
Wikimapia link
54th Region - Novosibirsk Oblast
Novosibirsk (Small West-Siberian) Children's Railway
It is one of the newest Russian children's railways.
Location:
Wikimapia link
56th Region - Orenburg Oblast
Orenburg Children's Railway
This railway works from June to August on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and
Sundays.
You can get there by bus 1 from railway terminal to the end stop, then down to river.
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Orenburg railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location:
Wikimapia link
57th Region - Orel Oblast
A homemade railway, Stanislav Filin built.
58th Region - Penza Oblast
Penza Children's Railway
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of plywood factory Power of Labor in Nizhniy Lomov
Current status unknown
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of match factory Victory in Verkhniy Lomov
Current status unknown. Probably, the railway was dismantled.
Location:
Wikimapia link
59th Region - Perm Krai
Pil'venskaya penal-servitude forestry NGR
This is the longest such in Russia.
There is a passenger train from Kushmangort to Pil'va and further to north. In the coming years NGR will be closed.
Location:
Wikimapia link
Chepetskaya penal-servitude forestry NGR
It goes north from Chepets. In the coming years it will close.
Location:
Wikimapia link
60th Region - Pskov Oblast
NGR of Yerhovskoye peat works
It's a rare case - a dismantled NGR which was rebuilt after 2 years of devastation.
Location:
Wikimapia
link
NGR of Zapliusskoe peat works
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Polistovskoe-1 peat works
The NGR goes north from Tsevlo (location Wikimapia link
). In 2007 (SergeyBolashenko's trip) the line used only by local people, who went to
the swamps for berries. They were ready to defend railway at all costs. Current
status unknown.
NGR of Polistovskoe-2 peat works
The NGR goes south-east from Gorodovik, location Wikimapia link
As in Tsevlo, in Gorodovik the line is used only by local people, who went to swamp for berries. Current
status unknown.
61st Region - Rostov Oblast
Rostov (Small North-Caucasus) Children's Railway.
There is a steam locomotive Gr-185, which works on weekends over summer.
Location:
Wikimapia link
62nd Region - Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan-Vladimir historical railway.
There was a 211km long railway, built in 1901, and 24km branch Gureevskiy - Golovanova Dacha, and a lot of little industrial branches. Writer K. Paustovskiy said, this railway is the most leisurely in USSR. In
1920s the Tumskaya - Vladimir section was rebuilt on the broad gauge. In 1936 there was a terrible tragedy - Kursha 2 settlements
were burned with almost all inhabitants. In 1970s an automobile road Ryazan-Vladimir was built and the railway gradually lost its importance. The main line was
dismantled in the 1990s, after this there was line Tumskaya - Gureevskiy - Golovanova Dacha.
The passenger train was withdrawn in 2008, and in 2011, bastards in the management of Russian Railways ordered to demount the railway. Now it is
being dismantled.
Reports about railway Tumskaya - Gureyevskiy - Golovanova Dacha:
NGR of Ryazan railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location:
Wikimapia link
-
http://infojd.ru/05/riazan-chpz.html (link broken by July 2020)
NGR of Mesherskoye peat works in Bolon
The enterprise has fallen on hard times.
Location:
Wikimapia link
Peat NGR in Prioziorny.
Rebuilt after long-term non-existence
Location:
Wikimapia link
Peat NGR in Solotchinskogo peat enterprise Is this the same as above?).
Rebuilt after long-term non-existence in 2012
63rd Region - Samara Oblast
NGR of Chapaevsk lime works
Location:
Wikimapia link
64th Region - Saratov Oblast
NGR of Krasnoarmeysk brickyard
Location:
Wikimapia link
65th Region - Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin railway.
There is a common-carrier railway with a gauge of 1067 mm (Japanese heritage). In
every way otherwise it looks like a broad gauge railway. By June 2019,
the railway had entirely been converted to broad gauge.
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Small Sakhalin) Children's Railway
Location:
Wikimapia
link
Mining NGR Shakhtiorsk - Udarny
This railway serves for coal transportation from mine to concentrating factory. The railway goes through
picturesque countryside. There is a long (400 m) tunnel.
NGR Poronaysk - Trudovoye
Perhaps, the railway was dismantled.
Location: Wikimapia
link
-
http://infojd.ru/22/poronaysk.html (link broken by July 2020)
66th Region - Sverdlovsk Oblast
Yekaterinburg (Small Sverdlovskaya) Children's Railway
This railway works from end of May to September on Thursdays (only in
Summer), Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays.
You can get there by trams 3, 6, 9, 10, 20, 21, 33 to the end stop "Park
Mayakovskogo".
Location: Wikimapia
link
Alapaevskaya narrow gauge railway.
Alapaevskaya is the longest narrow gauge railway in present-day Russia. There
is a 178km long main line Alapaevsk - Kalach and two long branches, in total - about 220km long.
Timber transportation is almost not-existent now, the railway is needed only for communications with several villages and settlements.
Passenger trains schedule:
-
Alapaevsk - Sankino (with carriages on the branches to Garaninka and (sometimes) to Beriozovka) 19.30 - 1.26
(Thursday, Friday, Sunday),
-
Sankino - Alapaevsk (with carriages…) 1.36 - 7.30 (Friday, Saturday,
Monday), from Garaninka - 1.10 (the same days), from Beriozovka - 1.00 (I
don't know, what days)
-
Yel'nichnaya - Ugol'naya 6.20 - 7.10 (Friday),
-
Ugol'naya - Strokinka 15.00 - 16.20 (Friday),
-
Strokinka - Ugolnaya 14.30 - 15.50 (Sunday),
-
Ugol'naya - Yel'nichnaya 16.00 - 16.50 (Sunday),
-
Sankino - Kalach 2.05 - 4.45 (Monday, Friday, Saturday),
-
Kalach - Sankino 22.30 - 1.15 (Monday, Friday, Saturday).
Reports:
30th May 2012 update from Andrey
Ilin
"In 2011, on the road began to invest large sums of money, the administration realized the importance of oblosti road. This year began to repair the track, trains, bought 4 engine and radio installed on all locomotives and stations. Three refurbished passenger wagons, repaired the bridge in Sankin, replaced 30 000 rail sleepers.
Next year plan to increase funding for the repair of roads and trains and purchase of new the locomotive and one passenger wagon. Still want to develop tourist business on the road. Now this narrow gauge railway to visit and see a lot of tourists from Europe and Russia. To do this, they made two VIP - wagon.
2012, The Prime Minister of the Sverdlovsk region, pledged over the next two years, about 50 million rubles to repair narrow-gauge railway. Also, these funds will be used for the purchase of new locomotives and wagons, the correspondent of «URA.Ru»."
1st January 2015 update from Andrey
Ilin
Alapayevsk railway Winter 2014-2015: http://youtu.be/ZF2FbIkOo_A
Tourism Alapayevsk railway:
Official Contacts Alapayevsk railway operator, E-mail: augd-pr@mail.ru, Phone: +7 (343) 4633290, Fax: +7 (34346) 33290.
Alapaevsk-system route:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alapayevsk_narrow-gauge_railway
NGR of Basyanovskoe peat works
The railway is not working. Perhaps, it has been dismantled. Location:
Wikimapia
link
NGR of Verkhniaya Siniachikha metallurgical plant
- The links below are reported to contain a virus (12th April 2018)
http://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_84.jpg
-
http://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_83.jpg
NGR of plant 'Uralelectromed' in Verkhniaya Pyshma
NGR of prison in Sos'va
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Bogdanovich railway sleepers impregnation plant.
NGR of Rezh nickel plant
NGR Chirok - Borodinka
This is a preserved section of Verkhneturinskaya forestry railway. Local people
go between villages on light
draisines. One of the draisines acts as the passenger train.
NGR in Andrianovichi
This is a section of railway survived thanks to the efforts of Andrianovichi`s mayor A. Adamovich. Local people go to the forest on light
draisines.
Current state unknown.
Closed forestry railway in Puksinka
The railway goes north from Puksinka, location Wikimapia link. It
has been closed but rails were still present in 2010.
In 1990 A. Kolesov found two old steam locomotives standing on Puksinka station. Unbelievable, but Sergey
Bolashenko found them still present in 2010. They were subsequently
recovered for preservation in2014 - see http://ru-uzd.livejournal.com/218532.html
(added 1st April 2014)
- http://infojd.ru/15/puksinka2010_03.html
- steam locomotives
- The link below is reported to contain a virus (12th April 2018)
http://n05.narod.ru/poezdka2010lvkpa/poezdka2010lvkpa_54.jpg
- autodraisine
67th Region - Smolensk Oblast
NGR of Redchinskoe peat works
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Roslavlskoe peat works in Ostior.
Location:
Wikimapia link
69th Region - Tver Oblast
NGR of 2nd Tver plant of construction materials
Location: Wikimapia
link
This railway has the biggest traffic in Russia among railways relatively large length (9km).
Trains run to the quarry and back many times almost every day.
NGR of Vasilyevsky Moh peat company
Location: Wikimapia link
The line goes from Vasilyevsky Moh to east, 29km long. In Soviet Union times
this was a large network.
Locomotives and moving equipment:
NGR in Novaya Orsha
A part of Vasilyevsky Moh network, disconnected several years ago. Situation hard, railway
closure is possible.
Location:
Wikimapia link
NGR of Bologoe railway sleepers impregnation plant
Nelidovskaya forestry NGR
The railway goes west-south-west from Mezha (location Wikimapia link).
There is a light draisine traffic of local people.
Peat carrying NGR in Rantsevo
It goes north from Rantsevo (location Wikimapia link) to Kliuchi peat field.
The railway is no longer active. Perhaps it will be dismantled.
70th Region - Tomsk Oblast
Komsomolskaya forestry NGR.
It is the last forestry railway in Siberia.
The railway goes from Komsomolsk (or Balagachiovo, location Wikimapia link) to Frantsevo and further to north-east
NGR of Tomsk railway sleepers impregnation plant
71st Region - Tula Oblast
Novomoskovsk children's railway
This railway works on 1st, 2nd and 9th May and on
Saturdays and Sundays; in summer months - on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays,
Sundays.
72nd Region - Tyumen Oblast
Tyumen Children's Railway
Location:
Wikimapia link
74th Region - Chelyabinsk Oblast
Chelyabinsk (Small South-Ural) Children's Railway
It is a long railroad (5.7 km) through forest. There are five stations and one platform. In 2011 trains
went from May 8 to September 12. In May and September - on Saturdays,
Sundays, state holidays; in summer months - on Wednesdays, Thursdays,
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays.
Location: Wikimapia
link
NGR of Ufaley nickel plant
Access to the plant forbidden..
1000-mm gauge electrified NGR in Satka of magnesite plant
There is magnesite ore transportation from quarry to two crush-and-concentrating factories (DOF-1 and DOF-2) around the clock.
Location: Wikimapia link
Electrified NGR in copper-electrolyte plant in Kyshtym
75th Region - Zabaikalskiy Krai
Chita (Small Zabaikalskaya) Children's Railway.
It is one of the longest
children's railways (6km) and the most in demand as public transport.
Location: Wikimapia link
76th Region - Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl (Small Northern) children's railway
This railway was recently completed with a "horseshoe with clenched ends" shape
Location: Wikimapia link
Pereslavl narrow gauge railway Museum in Talitsy
Location: Wikimapia link
Narrow gauge railway of Kupanskoe peat works was dismantled. The Museum involved in this…
This Museum exhibits a lot of locomotives, draisines and cars, also there are old automobiles.
NGR of Mokeiha-Zybinskoe peat works
There is one of largest peat works in Russia. The railway begins in Octiabr` settlement near broad railway station Pischalkino
Location Wikimapia link, line goes to
north-east to Mokeiha, 2 settlements and peat fields. The railway
is still working.
78th Region - St Petersburg City
"Old", Northern Small October Children's Railway
Location Wikimapia link
This railway works from end of May to end of August on Thursdays, Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays
"New", Southern Small October Children's Railway built in 2011 between St Petersburg (metro Kupchino,
location Wikimapia
link) and Pushkin (location Wikimapia link).
NGR of Trubostal plant
Location Wikimapia
link
79th Region - Jewish autonomous Oblast
NGR of Aur railway sleepers impregnation plant
Location Wikimapia
lnk
|
|
