Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

My compartment is about 5 x 6, with two bunk-seats, a folding table and a 3" x 5" TV, which never
had much on it. The wall is simulated panel, rather nice. There are toilets at each end of the car,
although the only one we use is at one end. There is a cold water basin there, difficult to work.
This is the only car with two-bunk compartments. The other cars, about 15 of them, have 4 bunks
and are quite crowded and full of tobacco smoke.
The Trans-Siberian railway is the longest train journey in the world (across eight time zones). The
locals often live by whatever time they choose. The time in the train stations in the larger cities may
be in Moscow time.
Moscow to Vladivostok is 9,289 km. = 5,805 miles.
5,805/25,000 = 24%, or about 1/4 of the way around the globe.
Khabarovsk is 8,532 km. from Moscow.
Irkutsk 5,191 km. from Moscow.
3,340 km. - Khabarovsk to Moscow = 2,087 miles.
100 years ago the first train arrived from Vladivostok, 1897-1997, which is 500 miles away.
Ours is the best part of the Trans-Siberian, more scenic than others. There will be lots of
wildflowers.
The train went through a tunnel under the Amur River, rather than over the bridge. Then we went
through flat country, with lots of grassy-looking Carex, and white birch, mostly. The birch are about
6" diameter, not larger trees.
Virtually all forests within 10 km. of the Trans-Siberian railway have been logged. Russian Far
East, p. 19.
The wildflowers are quite nice. There is especially a yellow one, day-lily, widespread in the fields.
Spectacular displays of this.
Wild iris
Willows.
Mostly deciduous trees through here, fewer conifers than I expected, though conifers were to come
later.
We reached Birobidzhan, 87,600 people, a town, little developed, the capital of the so-called Jewish
Autonomous Republic. The name on the train station is in Hebrew letters.
Reached Bira and got out a few minutes. The name on the train station is in both Russian and
Hebrew letters.
Dinner in the dining car was a greasy diced sausage and brown bread, then chicken, cold peas,
potatoes. Victor Kuzevanov provided champagne, that virtually exploded when opened, because
it was hot.