SECTION HOMEPAGE (NEW)
Russian
Railways Group
Find out about the Biggest and
Busiest Railway System in the World
The Russian
Railways Group caters for everyone interested in Russian and Soviet Railways, in
prototype or model form. The Group maintains data bases on Books, Videos, photo
sources and drawings, whilst members share information and tips on modeling the
Railways of Russia and the USSR and receive periodic illustrated newsletters
with prototype and model railway news.
With
144,000 route kilometers, the SZD was the largest Rail System in the World ! It
carried more freight than the rest of the world's railways.
With over 11,000 examples of the E family of 0-10-0s, it operated
the most numerous steam class in the world.
A few are still in everyday service at the start of the 21st
Century !
It built the only 14 coupled steam loco in history !
It is the LEAST known major rail system in the world
In Soviet days, railways were seen as a strategic service,
and an interest in railways was NOT welcome. In the years which have passed
since the demise of the USSR, a more open attitude has developed, but Western
railfans, deterred by travel and language problems, as well as a lack of
information, have been slow to explore the amazing rail system of the former
Soviet Union. Modelling efforts have
been hampered by a lack of the detailed information that Western railfans take
for granted. Modellers have had to “go it alone”, and one objective behind the
establishment of the RRG in October 2001 was to provide a forum where
information can be pooled for the benefit of all.
We are building up data bases on the essential reference
tools such as books, videos, photos and drawings, for without access to such
records, it is impossible to create accurate and convincing models of Soviet
and Russian railways. For example, one member had photographs of the series
55-76 hopper wagons, but no scale plans. Another member of the group knew of a
source of drawings, but the drawings did not give any details of lettering on
the wagons, or even the number series. Individually neither source is
sufficient for a good model. Together they provide all the modeller needs to
build an accurate wagon.
The Soviet Union was a very different state to what we are
used to in Western Europe or the United States, and if we dropped
Russian/Soviet engines into a British or US environment, the result would be
unconvincing, so another data base we plan to develop is on the Soviet/Russian
background.
At present the group operated on a highly informal basis,
with members contributing ideas and information. We plan to open a
comprehensive web site, but these pages are a temporary “home” for the Group
until that is done. They will be updated as new data comes in, so browse them
whenever you feel like. E-mail
newsletter No 2 was issued Nov 2001 and No 16 in October 2004.
Contact us – hendry@hillsidefilms.fsnet.co.uk
Postal
addresses
UK/Europe
; Robert Hendry, Acting
Co-ordinator, 2 Moultrie Rd, RUGBY,
Warwickshire, CV21 3BD, England.
North America Phil Moberg, 14
Jean Lane, So. Windsor, CT 06074, USA.
(If
contacting us by post, please include and SSAE/SAE or International Reply
Coupon.
If you are interested, please do contact us and let us know
what YOU know, tell us about any modelling projects you have and any tips you
can give us. Here are some links to other pages in this site. “Useful Links”
provides an index of other sites for model railway equipment, model railway
suppliers, videos, and photo and drawing data bases. Many hours of browsing.
Book Database; Video Database; Drawing Database; Photo Database;
Wagon Photo Files 3-01; 3.02 3.03
Loco Fact
files, Kazan 0-8-0s Kazan 0-8-0 Drawings Kazan
4-6-0 Kazan 4-6-0 drawings
Modelling Projects
; Hillside
films Main Page
Click here for USEFUL
LINKS
Russian Railway Ring Member Click here or on
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