Lost railway in Siberia

In 1949 the Soviet leadership accepted the solution of building of polar railroad Igarka - Salekhard. Prisoners built road. In general what was planned was a long road - it is 1263 km long and it lies 200 kilometers inside the Arctic circle. The problems of building were abutted not only against climatic and geographical problems - permafrost and ten month winter...

The route had to cross channels, creeks and large rivers. Wooden or concrete bridges were erected across the small rivers - across the Ob' the passage achieved by summer...

and heavy ferry boats were used in winter. For the northern regions of Siberia, the existence of winter roads is characteristic - the temporary motor roads, which disappear after snowfall and numerous swamps and rivers are covered with ice. In order to make automobile passages across the rivers more reliable, they pour on by water, increasing the thickness of ice.

On these icy passages, logs and stays were also placed for the railroads. This device of ice passages for rail transport - unique invention of Soviet engineers. The building was conducted simultaneously from two sides, from the side of the Ob' - 501 building and from the side of the Yenisey - 503 building.