Trans Siberia – The Trains

Our route was Beijing to Moscow, however, we used local trains all the way with 2 deviations – on Lake Baikal we took the Circum Baikal train(local not tourist), visited Listvyanka, Olkhon Island and later Tomsk which required a small deviation from the main line.

In all 11 train ‘legs’ with a couple of nights at each stop.

Total trip from Hong Kong to Helsinki was 52 days and entirely by train between Beijing and Tallin with a few buses where unavoidable around Lake Baikal area.

Beijing – the obligatory departure shot

From Beijing for a considerable discount compared to the ‘Trans Siberian Train’ route we took 2 local trains – first stop Jining, then to Erenhot/Erlian where we crossed the border to Outer Mongolia.

A short stop for a rest in a hotel at Jining resulted in the hotel losing a China Id card which had to be either replaced or retrieved before we could leave China. Luckily the manager found it in the photo-copier the next day!

Then delivered by scheduled bus driver to us and delay was limited to 24 hours. Otherwise 4+ days to replace.

While waiting in Erlian for ID card, is that an ooops?
Erlian ghost busters
Erlian Police – where you go when China Id is lost by your hotel, office 100% women it seemed and very understanding/helpful. They were very happy when ID was eventually located.
Erlian, finally on board, next stop Ulaan Baatar
Erlian, hooking up
Fly like the wind
Done a few kilometres
Erenhot, Helping other passengers with immigration forms
Zamiin Uud, refreshment stop and another engine change
Zamiin Uud, hooking up carefullly
Darhan station art
Krasnoyask, Keeping us safe
The Ubiquitous water boiler – 1 per carriage and not as scary as it looks, this one leaking a little
The Ubiquitous boiler schematic, see not so scary
2nd class window
Hallway and gathering place for passengers taking a break from the compartment
Balezino, Hooking up
Balezino Station
Evening
Vladimir, exploring station
Vladimir, a bit desolate
Vladimir, not much here
Vladimir, exploring station, not much happening here either
Vladimir
Vladimir, last bunch of flowers
Vladimir, tack
Vladimir, let’s go outside
Vladimir, waiting
Now that is what I call a locomotive, we sped through the night behind this one
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