Trip to Vygoda NG railway

Wolfram Wendelin

On Monday, 26.2.2001 the weather in Vygoda was fine with snow, but very cold (-20 ╟C). We took the workers' train with TU8G-0017 leaving Vygoda at 9.00h in the morning. They took along one coach, a platform and the snow plough. By 12.00h we had reached after 4 foto-stops km 5 (Staryj Mizun). There we bought a lot of food and wodka. To pay for the wodka was my duty. Then we had lunch in the frozen loco-cabin. Instead of heating there was much (good) vodka. Afterwards beautiful travel through valley Mizunka to Mindunok Solotvinskij (km 24) from 13-15h, with nine more foto-stops. On the way we lost a tank with petrol, which went down (16 meters) to the river, but could be gotten back qickly by using loco's hydraulic arm and a cable. In Mindunok there was a lot of snow. Having taken many good pictures, and having drunken already plenty of Vodka, we wanted to go back, because workers homes were totally frozen.

We started to walk on the rails of the wolve's land (Truth!!), neglecting the railroaders' invitation to stay overnight and their protest. We were more afraid of the vodka than of the wolves.

After two kilometers' walk in the snowstorm on the (cleared) track our friends with TU8G came after us and picked us up!!!!

They did not support the thougt we Austrians walked round here (14-24km) alone in the cold wildness. Real friends (and drunken as we were!). BUT HEAVEN we went straight towards the second train of this day, without signalization!!!! Russian Roulette!! We asked for better going back to Mindunok but they said that they NOW wanted to bring us to Vygoda! God helped us fools. We met the second train with TU8-0364 just in a former station, where it could be seen at time (in the snowsorm) and so we avoided an accident. We had much luck! We reached Staryj Mizun without more problems in the evening and stopped on the main line in the darkness. There we catched a horse-drawn sledge on the icy road to the shop, bought much vodka and beer for the taxi forest railway travel we had had. Followed another party of friendship between Austrian Visitors and Ukrainian Railroaders in the completely dark cab of the loco TU8G-0017. You see, I know this loco very well. Unforgettable. They did not accept any dollar for tickets or so. But they loved pictures from their railway we brought along in may.