RailScapes
New Member
Hello again everyone,
One day I will get around to finishing my India posts but for now its onto a much more recent trip (two weeks ago) to entirely new territory for me, the former USSR. I spent a week photographing trains in Estonia and Latvia. Unexpectedly my favorite shots are from the relatively unknown oil shale lines in Estonia's far east which operate entirely with Soviet built TEM2 locomotives. Perhaps its because the area's history can be linked to the broader history of the region and the interest extends beyond just trains. The entire report can be read here with a preview below.
http://railscapestravel.com/2018/07/02/3151/
The main hub of the Oil Shale lines is Ahtme yard where the mainline to the powerstation meets the branch to the massive Estonia mine. The mainline once extended further but has since been idled after the mines played out. A few scenes below near Ahtme.
Returning form the Estonia mine with loads
The other main point of access to the lines is Viivikonna, a ghost town which was once home to 2000 people who worked in the mines there. Today most of the town lays in ruins and only about 90 people live there today. Since this is a rail site I will leave out the urban exploration shots but be sure to check out the blog if you are interested.
Thanks for looking and hope you enjoyed the photos!
One day I will get around to finishing my India posts but for now its onto a much more recent trip (two weeks ago) to entirely new territory for me, the former USSR. I spent a week photographing trains in Estonia and Latvia. Unexpectedly my favorite shots are from the relatively unknown oil shale lines in Estonia's far east which operate entirely with Soviet built TEM2 locomotives. Perhaps its because the area's history can be linked to the broader history of the region and the interest extends beyond just trains. The entire report can be read here with a preview below.
http://railscapestravel.com/2018/07/02/3151/
The main hub of the Oil Shale lines is Ahtme yard where the mainline to the powerstation meets the branch to the massive Estonia mine. The mainline once extended further but has since been idled after the mines played out. A few scenes below near Ahtme.
Returning form the Estonia mine with loads
The other main point of access to the lines is Viivikonna, a ghost town which was once home to 2000 people who worked in the mines there. Today most of the town lays in ruins and only about 90 people live there today. Since this is a rail site I will leave out the urban exploration shots but be sure to check out the blog if you are interested.
Thanks for looking and hope you enjoyed the photos!