Nachstehenden Bildbericht habe ich eigentlich für ein englischsprachiges Forum geschrieben. Ich verzichte nun darauf, alles ins Deutsche zu übersetzen, da ich ein Mindestmass an Englisch-Kenntnissen eh vorraussetzen kann:
This pics are not from my Eurasia-trip last year, but from a trip to Siberia in july 2006. I was travelling with the Russian sleeping car Vienna - Moscow, the regauging took place at Brest in Belarus (border to Poland).
The sleeping car runs with the overnight train Vienna - Warsaw up to the Czech/Polish border, there it is detached form that train and attached to the "Vltava" train, which connects Prague with Moscow.
Usually passengers have two possibilities to spend the time during the regauging procedure: Getting off at the station after the arrived from Poland and before it is shunted to the regauging hall and have a little walk near the station or even a small sightseeing trip (there is a castle in Brest). Or sit in the compartment during the regauging procedure.
I have choosen the third possibility: I asked the conductor to get off during the regauging procedure to make photos. I could walk around and take photos in the whole regauging hall without any problems:
The regauging hall from outside:
Inside - special devices for lifting the cars:
The cars are positionated on special places with such devices.
This car (Russian car from Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic to Moscow) has already been lifted:
Sleeping car of Czech railways:
The Vienna - Moscow car is being prepared for lifting:
Russian SA3-couplers waiting to be used:
Detail of the car Karlovy Vary - Moscow:
Again, the Vienna - Moscow car:
New broad gauge boogies (pulled by a motor powered rope system) are moved under the cars, pushing the standard gauge boogies away:
Check out also the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od_4bpT4jfk
See how the booges are stopped by manpower, once at the right position: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTlnVzxoiTc
The cars on the first track have their new boogies under them. Lowering starts:
Meanwhile the Vienna - Moscow car gets its SA3 coupler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr9EpczeiLo
Some last work to fix the coupler:
And up we go! Lifting starts!
Detail of the coupler:
Detail of the standard gauge boogie:
Here it can bee seen that in the regauiging hall both standard and broag gauge boogies run on the SAME tracks. The difference is only 9 cm. However, the distance between the wheel flange (of the standard gauge wheels) and the rail is quite big here (which can also be seen at the picture). No problem for some meters at low speed, but of course not possible for normal operation.
Also the conductor is watching the spectacle:
Finally the broad gauge boogies arrive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7pMXcEmEqU
It is quite a task to ensure that every car always gets its correct boogies. All boogies (normal and broad gauge) are numbered and belong to a specific car.
A flexible usage of boogies is not allowed.
Finally the car is lowered:
The cars are pulled out of the regauging hall with this diesel shunter (class ChME3):
BTW, to hear the typical sound of this locomotive click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOTvCBqRh5A
The train is now standing at the platform, waiting for its departure to Moscow:
Our conductor:
Inside the Vienna - Moscow sleeping car:
Inside my compartment - sorry for the mess... ;-)
Greetings,
Helmut