Comments on: Our Trans-Siberian train trip, Part 1

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 01:18:56 +0000

Thanks Sal, Greg did a great job on his video, didn’t he? You’re right, it is mostly flat, although now we’re at Lake Baikal it’s quite hilly just a bit away from the lake. Yep, 3 days on a train is long enough!

By: sally

sally — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:15:25 +0000

Judy and Greg , I’m learning so much and loved the video ! The countryside seems mainly flat , like in Scandinavia , and many huge waterways . Thank heavens you’re in first class and have a break half way . I’m sure you’d go crazy sitting on a train for a week . Not to mention a pressure sore !

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:38:26 +0000

The train was pulled by two Electric Locomotives. They change locomotives reasonably often. It may be its an easy way to change crew, but it might also be because they line is electrified to different voltages. Some of the line is 25K AC and some is 3K DC. The train is not very long. it has only ten carriages which includes 3 freight ones (with post and the like).

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 06:37:17 +0000

Ron, as far as I know, the Trans-Siberian Railway is electrified from Moscow to Vladivostok, but I’ll let Greg correct me on that one if I’m wrong. The cabin on this train is not as well thought-out as the Ghan or the Indian Pacific. It would be better if they had wider beds and double bunks. Greg ended up sleeping on the floor on the 3rd night. The villages in Greg’s video and photos look good, but some of the ones we passed as we got closer to Irkutsk … not so great. But you’re right about the people dressed in bright clothes – must be very different to what you saw in 1980. Must look at your photos when we get home …. you were allowed to take photos, I hope?

By: Margaret & Derick Smith

Margaret & Derick Smith — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 06:12:55 +0000

Ron and Fay.
I find Judy’s report on Russia very interesting , but to you it must be more so as you did the trip all those years ago and are able to compare , Thanks for your input.x

By: ron

ron — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 04:34:30 +0000

what can you say people are dressed in bright clothes the station look clean the trains look ok the houses you passed on the train look bright it is not how I though of it when we where there 32 years ago it has moved on which is good the loco that is pulling you I guess is a diesel one or two is it better or worse than a carriage on the Overland say from Adelaide to Darwin what I have read about Siberia not a good place to be sent to work as know doubt over 100.000 Germans captured at Stalingrad would agree only about 5000 returned to Germany 10 years later. bit of history