On board the Russian Trans-Siberian Express (interesting Long Distance Train experience as compared with Amtrak)

[daveklepper]

I have not visited Russia.  I have spent time in most European countries, including Rumania, where my Dad was born, and what is now Serba.  Any good American feels at home in the UK, because so much of north American (lumping Canada and the USA together even with the relatively small differences, Quebec vs rest  of Canada more different than rest of Canada and the USA), but the impression I got is that I could really feel at home in Russia.   Despite the obvious differences, and Russica obviously needs vast decentralization of industry and business, the attitudes of the "conductor"  (more like a Pullman porter with regard to resonsibilities?) and her husband seem very American.  Regarding the "icon," apparently the criminilization of religion that the Communists brought, did not do such a thorough job.  What was presented was a cross-section of generally likeable people that I would think just great to meet.  Within all, I would love to take that train trip.  And getting to meet such people is definitely part of the joy of such a trip.

[Firelock76]

Deggesty

Lady Firestorm would go with you, of course?

 

Oh, absolutely, especially with Samantha Brown on the trip.  Come to think of it, I'd have more to worry about from Lady Firestorm than Sam's husband!

Ow, she was looking over my shoulder. Ow.

[Deggesty]

Lady Firestorm would go with you, of course?

[Firelock76]

I'm with NKP guy, "The Travel Channel" provides all the travel experience I need.

Now I might be tempted to go if Samantha Brown was leading the tour!

On the other hand, she's a married woman, and even though he's in the computer business her hubby looks like an outlaw biker!  With my luck he'd be the jealous type, and I don't heal as fast as I used to.

[Overmod]

54light15

I reall reading a very funny novel called "Head of State" written by I think, John Axton ...

You've got the wrong protagonist; it was Burlane, not Axton (with zek Isaak Ginsburg as the 'head' plotter...), and the book was by Hoyt from the period just before the fall of the Soviet Union.

I think he got his imagery from secondary sources, Theroux, perhaps, with an admixture of Penn Central/Conrail.  Made a fine tale, though.

[54light15]

I reall reading a very funny novel called "Head of State" written by I think, John Axton which involved stealing Lenin's head from his tomb in Red Sqare and escaping via the Trans-Siberian. It seemed that the author actually must have ridden the train and described it in detail as far as I can tell, never having been on it.

He was descriptive about the train banging over switches, the filthy windows, the freezing cold in between the coaches, the scary women in charge of each sleeping car and the vodka-swilling russkies in the dingy dining car. It was a good read, be nice to find it again. It also involved a trained dog carrying the head across Red Square in a bag while it all began. A fun story.

[NKP guy]

Thanks, CMStPnP for posting these links.  I took your advice, watched & enjoyed both, and made the comparisons.  

 I confess to a romantic notion of what riding this train is like, and over the years I've read the literature and looked at photos.  But these videos give a sense of a very different reality on board, e.g. take a look at the rusty or dirty window frames.  

I'm glad railfans have so many ways these days to travel vicariously; I get much of the experience without having to leave my chair, plus I save a ton of money.  

And I'm so glad I don't have to actually eat the chow served in that pretty dining car.

 

 

 

[CMStPnP]

This is multi-episode but most of the informational content is in Episode 1 & 2 (E2), if you want you can view beyond Episode 2 on youtube

Watch for the two passengers from illinois drinking Vodka in the Dining Car and discussing their dating habits (just joking....heh-heh).

Anyways, here is the link to Episode 1...........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTE04hyCRBw

Here is the link to Episode 2......................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AljqjyfJNO4

There are more Episodes beyond this, you can go to youtube and watch.    It was really, really interesting to watch episodes 1 & 2 just to see the differences in what the carriages provide in Russia vs the United States and how the crews operate.

If you watch Episode 3 you will see the boilers on each carriage are fueled by COAL, that is covered at the start of Episode 3 and is kind of humourous.