Abandoned giants: the cemetery of steam locomotives of the Sverdlovsk region

The Sverdlovsk region is rightfully considered the heart of Russian railway transport, where the history of industrialization is imprinted in metal. Thousands of kilometers of tracks connecting Europe and Asia have seen the change of eras, from steam to electric trains. However, beyond the boundaries of existing highways, in forests and ravines, lurk real open-air museums, known as locomotive cemeteries. These places attract not only professional historians and photographers, but also everyone who appreciates the power of a bygone era.

Unlike official museums, where exhibits are restored and fenced, here technology appears in its original, albeit sad, form. Rust, grass breaking through the paint and silence, broken only by the sound of the wind, create a unique atmosphere. Steam locomotives of the L, P36 and FD series dozens of them stand here, awaiting their fate - melting down or restoration. It is important to understand that visiting such objects requires not only the desire to take a photo, but also compliance with safety measures, which we will discuss later.

The geographical distribution of these objects is extensive: from the outskirts of Yekaterinburg to remote stations in the north of the region. The largest accumulations of decommissioned equipment in the Sverdlovsk region are recorded in the areas of former large depots, such as Sverdlovsk-Sortirovochny, Nizhny Tagil and Asian. It is here, at the junction of technological structures, that one can see how time is slowly but inevitably consuming the steel giants.

⚠️ Attention: Access control may apply on the territory of existing or legally mothballed depots. Do not try to enter protected facilities, as this may result in administrative liability and risk to life due to the movement of shunting trains.

Historical heritage of the Ural railways

The Urals have always been a strategically important region, and the development of the railway network here proceeded at an accelerated pace. Steam locomotives, which replaced horse traction, became a symbol of progress. During the Great Patriotic War, it was through the Sverdlovsk region that trains with equipment and people, and steam traction was the backbone of the country's logistics. After the war, the locomotive fleet continued to grow, including powerful freight and high-speed passenger models.

With the advent of the era of electrification and dieselization in the 1960s and 70s, the fate of the steam fleet was sealed. The massive decommissioning of equipment led to the formation of the first spontaneous settling tanks. Unlike Western countries, where steam locomotives were often destroyed immediately, in the USSR they were sometimes kept in reserve for years or used as stationary boiler houses. It was this period that gave rise to the phenomenon of “cemeteries”, where equipment stood idle for decades.

Today these sites are a valuable source of information for researchers. By studying surviving license plates and modifications, it is possible to reconstruct the history of a particular depot. Specifications Many of the machines on display are unique and cannot be found in existing museums. It is a living history textbook, available to those who are willing to look.

Where to look: main locations of the Sverdlovsk region

Finding abandoned equipment is an activity for the patient. The exact coordinates often change as scrap metal is periodically removed. However, there are places where the concentration of rarities remains high for many years. First of all, you should pay attention to the surroundings of large nodes, where historically there were located repair factories and maintenance points.

One of the most famous points is the station area Sverdlovsk-Sortirovochny. Here, in deep dead ends and on sidings, you can find entire trains consisting of tenders and the skeletons of steam locomotives. The area around Nizhny Tagil is also rich in finds, where the powerful metallurgical industry required a huge number of locomotives. In the northern direction, towards Serov and Asian, there are also single specimens forgotten in the forest.

• 🚂 Ekaterinburg (Sorting): Highest concentration, access is often limited by security.
• 🏭 Nizhny Tagil: Layover areas near metallurgical plants, many cargo models.
• 🌲 Asian/Ser: Remote locations, equipment is often hidden by vegetation, an SUV is required.
• 🛤️ Bogdanovich: Historical site, possible finds of early series of steam locomotives.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that many paths may be dismantled or, conversely, mothballed. Satellite maps help to identify long trains that have been standing for years, but the relevance of the data must be checked using recent reports from stalkers and photographers.