Volchansk tram system
Encyclopedia
Volchansk Tram is a main kind of transportation connecting southern and northern parts-townships of one town Volchansk
(Sverdlovsk Oblast
, Russia
). These townships are called Volchanka and Lesnaya Volchanka respectively. Town population is only about ten thousand people. Tram
has been working since December 31, 1951. The system contains one line, the length is about 7—8 kilometers.
In the past the town had two urban tram lines: to Lesnaya Volchanka and to Opencast Colliery #5. The second one was closed in 1994 because of theft of trolley wire. Also there was an interurban tram line to neighbouring town Karpinsk
, that had been working from 1953 till April 22, 1965. It was dismantled by reason of transfer of enormous walking excavator from Karpinsk to Volchansk along the road between these two towns.
and meadows.
Tram tracks need repair, but depot workers carry out track service as much as possible with available material, equipment and means: tracks transposition, replacement of sleepers, smoothing of track rails, mounting of shunts, etc. Derailments happen but they tend to decrease.
Tramway depot
is situated in southern district Volchanka and is the southern terminus. The depot territory contains one-storeyed headquarters, a brick box for two tramcars, an area for tramcars parking, and a utility building.
Since May 2010 tram does not work from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. It is caused by low passenger traffic in the daytime.
Passenger tramcars are equipped with bow collectors, that are suitable for operation on the existing catenary. It is planned to equip tramcars with modified pantograph
s adapted to work in local conditions.
Also the depot has non-working snow plough “GS-4” (probably, it has no stock number), that has been once plundered by vandals. However, Volchansk workers intend to restore the machine. At present a tractor is used to shovel snow off the track.
The depot disposes an old flatcar that was a tramcar of model KTM-1 many years ago. It is coupled with a passenger tramcar and used to transportation of materials and tools to the trackworks places.
A body of tramcar that is a model MTV-82 is used as warehouse.
by the reason that it is the smallest city in the world having its own tram system. It story has been told guests by townsmen themselves. Thereby the tale became a popular story both within and outside the town. Nowadays numerous stories about the town menthion this “fact” by mistake.
Nevertheless, Volchansk townsmen have made application to Russian Records Book in order to have an official confirmation of their town to be the smallest one in Russia with its own tram service.
Volchansk
Volchansk is a town under the administrative jurisdiction of the Town of Karpinsk in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volchanka River , north of Yekaterinburg...
(Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Urals Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Yekaterinburg formerly known as Sverdlovsk. Population: -Geography:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
). These townships are called Volchanka and Lesnaya Volchanka respectively. Town population is only about ten thousand people. Tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
has been working since December 31, 1951. The system contains one line, the length is about 7—8 kilometers.
History
Tram service in Volchansk started on December 31, 1951. By that time Volchansk did not have the town status (it only became a town in 1956), but the population reached 30 thousand.In the past the town had two urban tram lines: to Lesnaya Volchanka and to Opencast Colliery #5. The second one was closed in 1994 because of theft of trolley wire. Also there was an interurban tram line to neighbouring town Karpinsk
Karpinsk
Karpinsk is a town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Turya River , north of Yekaterinburg. Population: -History:The settlement of Bogoslovsk was founded in either 1759 or in 1769. It remained one of the largest copper production centers in the Urals until 1917...
, that had been working from 1953 till April 22, 1965. It was dismantled by reason of transfer of enormous walking excavator from Karpinsk to Volchansk along the road between these two towns.
Description of System
Volchansk Tram System consists of one line connecting Volchanka with Lesnaya Volchanka. The length of the line is about 7—8 kilometers. The line is single-track. Previously existed passing tracks have been dismantled. Tram road between townships passes through taigaTaiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
and meadows.
Tram tracks need repair, but depot workers carry out track service as much as possible with available material, equipment and means: tracks transposition, replacement of sleepers, smoothing of track rails, mounting of shunts, etc. Derailments happen but they tend to decrease.
Tramway depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
is situated in southern district Volchanka and is the southern terminus. The depot territory contains one-storeyed headquarters, a brick box for two tramcars, an area for tramcars parking, and a utility building.
Route Network
There is only one route. Time length of running to Lesnaya Volchanka numbers about 28–29 minutes, backwards to Volchanka it numbers about 23–24 minutes. There is only one tramcar on line. Leaving the depot happens every hour from 7:05 a.m. till 10:05 p.m. Leaving end point in Lesnaya Volchanka happens every hour from 7:35 a.m. till 11:35 p.m. Thereby the tram enters the depot finally at 11:00 p.m.Since May 2010 tram does not work from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. It is caused by low passenger traffic in the daytime.
Rolling stock
The rolling stock consists of two tramcars of model 71-605 (stock numbers #7 and #8), one tramcar 71-608KM (stock number #1), one tramcar 71-402 “SPECTR” (stock number #2) and one tramcar 71-619 (stock number #3). The last one came to the town in January, 2008. SPECTR had come a couple of years before. Thereby Volchansk has completely renewed all its rolling stock and unlike many similar towns in Russia it has enough tramcars to operate its transport system.Passenger tramcars are equipped with bow collectors, that are suitable for operation on the existing catenary. It is planned to equip tramcars with modified pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
s adapted to work in local conditions.
Also the depot has non-working snow plough “GS-4” (probably, it has no stock number), that has been once plundered by vandals. However, Volchansk workers intend to restore the machine. At present a tractor is used to shovel snow off the track.
The depot disposes an old flatcar that was a tramcar of model KTM-1 many years ago. It is coupled with a passenger tramcar and used to transportation of materials and tools to the trackworks places.
A body of tramcar that is a model MTV-82 is used as warehouse.
Interesting facts
According to local tale Volchansk has been recorded to Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
by the reason that it is the smallest city in the world having its own tram system. It story has been told guests by townsmen themselves. Thereby the tale became a popular story both within and outside the town. Nowadays numerous stories about the town menthion this “fact” by mistake.
Nevertheless, Volchansk townsmen have made application to Russian Records Book in order to have an official confirmation of their town to be the smallest one in Russia with its own tram service.
Links
- Volchansk tramway as a part of the project World's Tram and Trolleybus Systems