Cemetery of steam locomotives, Perm Territory. The old, useless railway technology

The Perm region is rich in tourist attractions and simply picturesque places for walking. During the rest in this region will not be bored to anyone. But if you want to get the most vivid impressions and see something really unusual, go on an "informal" excursion, for example, visit the cemetery of locomotives. Permsky Krai, Shumkovo station is a place where you can see railroad train of different epochs.

An open-air museum or a "strategic reserve"?

Railway tanks are a typical phenomenon for our country. Progress does not stand still, locomotives and electric trains become obsolete, break down. As it is a question of a large and expensive technique, it is unreasonable to send it to the disposal immediately after the write-off. This is exactly the way settling tanks appear - railroad cul-de-sacs, on the branches of which the trains taken off the flights are driven.

When, and under what circumstances, did the locomotive cemetery appear at Shumkovo station? The Perm region half a century ago could boast of a sufficiently large point of repair and maintenance of the railway transport. This was originally intended for Shumkovo station. Here the locomotives were driven to repair, after which they were again put on the rails. Gradually, some too worn out pieces of equipment at the station remained stationary.

In the 70s of the last century all railways of the USSR were served by electric and diesel locomotives. It was then that a cemetery of locomotives was formed in Shumkovo. The Perm region was a long time place of their strategic storage. The old residents of the station recall that at first all the locomotives and trains were mothballed - regular maintenance was carried out regularly and, if necessary, the machines could be put into operation again at any time. Today the facility is considered closed and protected, but despite this, it is not so difficult to get to its territory.

Total number of exhibits

Today there are about twenty old steam locomotives at Shumkovo station, as well as many more modern electric trains, diesel locomotives and wagons. In total, the "collection" under the open sky totals about 200 pieces of railway equipment of different types and times. But after all, once there were only 140 locomotives. Where did they disappear? The fate of the outdated railway equipment is developing in different ways. Many cars were sold to other countries, in particular China is very respected by FD ("Felix Dzerzhinsky") and consider these locomotives incredibly reliable. Some units of special equipment were disposed of, and others were really lucky: they were restored and turned into monuments.

Cemetery of steam locomotives in our days

Officially Shumkovo station and its sedimentation tank of obsolete railway equipment still have the status of a specially protected facility, but the secrecy with it a few years ago was lifted. At the entrance to the territory there is a lodge, immediately behind which you can see the "exhibits". This is mainly passenger cars of modern type, made in the nineties. Despite their short history, they look quite beaten. Having stood years in the open air and without due service, many cars rotted and strongly rusted. But even this part of the cemetery of cars is incredibly interesting and makes a strong impression.

Walking between the ghosts of trains and electric trains, and you want to sing to yourself the legendary "Wait, locomotive, do not knock the wheels ...". And yet the most interesting part of the spontaneously formed "museum" is farther, it needs to go through the field. It is here that you can see the real "dinosaurs" of the railway.

The most interesting "exhibits"

The oldest locomotive in the sump is Er 716-66, produced in Hungary at the Mawag plant in 1936. He got to this station after forty years of operation. This specimen is well preserved and, quite possibly, very soon it will acquire a second life - it will become a monument, all the necessary documents are already made out.

You can see in the sump and domestic cars, for example, the famous IS-20 ("Joseph Stalin"). Production of these locomotives was started in 1920, and today the models of steam locomotives of this series can be seen in many museums around the world.

Are excursions legal?

Today the territory of the railway station is still protected. On the way to the emergency routes one can see a lodge in which employees of a specialized Perm firm are always on duty. Of course, railway technology can not be stolen. The main danger to the sedimentation tank of the technicians is represented by looters and wishing to profit by metal. But the attitude towards tourists is more loyal. As the security guards themselves admit, after the governor of the Perm region posted photos from the station in his personal blog, the number of those wishing to look at the "landmark" increased at times. However, lovers of informal tourism have always come here to look at locomotives and trains. Usually security for visibility shows displeasure with the visits of tourists, but the inspection of the territory does not prohibit. Some employees are even ready to accompany visitors during the walk and act as guides.

Useful information for travelers

The locomotives stand on the rails literally in the middle of a clean field. Between the ways in the summer grows a tall grass, which from time to time mow. Workers of the station claim that in these places there are many vipers. Therefore, go on a guided tour in closed shoes and clothes. You can get to the territory of the object not only by verbal agreement with the guards, but also by obtaining an official permit. To do this, it is necessary to send an appropriate request to the management of the Sverdlovsk Railway.

Cemetery of steam locomotives (Perm Territory): how to get there from the nearest cities?

The nearest settlement to the base is the village of Spaso-Barda. It should be guided, if you are going to the cemetery of locomotives on your own car or public transport. The nearest town to the object is Kishert, it is possible to get there from Perm by bus. It is most convenient to travel by car. Choosing this option, you will see for yourself the cemetery of locomotives. The Perm region has many roads. The easiest way is not to get lost if you enter Kishrat, turn it from the church to Spaso-Barda. Further you will pass the bridge across the river Sylva, after it there will be a fork.

There are no signs here, you need to turn to an asphalt road that follows the railway tracks. Now it remains only to move to the fence, where you will have the opportunity to ask for an excursion.

"Wait, locomotive!": Interesting facts about the stock base in Shumkovo

Local residents have long ceased to be surprised at the "museum" in the open air. Moreover, many of the railway cemetery frankly do not like it. But meanwhile it is not possible to call a sump at Shumkovo station useless. For example, recently one of the "exhibits" was involved in the festive staff for Victory Day in Perm. A small maintenance and external marathon - and the "old man" confidently set off on their own, say, the veterans were very pleased to see the locomotive of his youth in motion.

They are talking about the sump of steam locomotives and the most real legends. Tourists stopping near the station for the night, say that they heard strange sounds from the graveyard of technology. However, it is easy to explain, because there is an operating repair shop for modern trains nearby.

Visit this place is worth all lovers of ancient technology and history as such. In many museums you can see the models of steam locomotives that stand here. But you will agree, it is much more interesting to look at real machines, rather than on their copies on a reduced scale.