Tag Archives: winter

Don’t drive into the River Volga!

Nizhny Novgorod is a historic Russian city located where the Oka River meets the Volga. As you might expect, many roads lead to the water. In the middle of winter there is no difference between snow and ice, so signs […]

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Delivering a crane by train

I’ve seen many interesting pieces of Russian heavy machinery, but this is a new one – a crawler crane that can be moved by rail. The crane arrives at the Tyosovo Railway Museum in Novgorod Oblast on the back of […]

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Ice fishing across Russia

As I travelled by train across Russia in the middle of winter, there was one thing I saw on every river I passed over – people going ice fishing. They drive down to their local river. Then tramp across the […]

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Clearing icicles from the streets of Moscow

Growing up in Australia, icicles are something I’ve never had to deal with. But over in Russia they are deadly serious for anyone standing below when they fall.

Deadly looking icicles hang from the eaves Continue reading

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Farewell to the Chernobyl sarcophagus

For thirty years Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has lay beneath a massive steel and concrete sarcophagus, protecting the outside world from any further radioactive contamination following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. But 2016 has seen this iconic scene change forever, with the completion of the New Safe Confinement structure.

Standing 300 metres from the sarcophagus over Chernobyl reactor 4 Continue reading

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Icebreakers on the River Neva, Saint Petersburg

During cold Russian winters the River Neva through Saint Petersburg becomes covered with ice, with icebreakers required to keep the waterway open.

A few more chunks of ice to go Continue reading

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Churches of Nizhny Novgorod

One thing struck me when exploring the old town of the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod – just how many churches there were to see.

National Unity Square in Nizhny Novgorod Continue reading

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Inspection crews on the Russian Railways

On my way across Russia by train I spent hours staring out the window at the passing scenery, and in that time I found plenty of railway staff looking just as intently at the tracks.

Walking the tracks with a measuring gauge Continue reading

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Steam power and trains in modern Russia

Russia has a history of railway electrification dating back to the 1930s, leading to the retirement of their last steam locomotives by the 1970s. However the distinctive smell of burning coal has not disappeared from the Russian Railways – just take a walk down the platform at any railway station.

ЧС2Т class electric locomotive ЧС2Т 954 ready to lead our train out of Saint Petersburg Continue reading

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Leaking roof at Budapest Nyugati pályaudvar

Budapest’s Nyugati pályaudvar (western railway station) is one of three rail termini in the capital of Hungary, and to my eye the grandest. But something very inconvenient happens each time it rains.

Street side of Budapest-Nyugati pályaudvar Continue reading

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