The old narrow-gauge steam locomotive of 1936 was removed from the monument and restored to working condition.
The process of restoring old railway equipment is as follows. Equipment that is no longer in use or has been decommissioned is delivered to the repair shop, where its history is studied: where the trains were delivered from, who produced them and in what years. Here the condition of the equipment is assessed and the amount of work is calculated.
Then the specialists proceed to the drawings: they draw partitions, benches, determine the color of the product and create a 3D model of the train. If some details are missing, analogues are being searched. If there are no analogues, then new ones are made.
Parts that can be restored are subject to restoration. New windows for trains are bought from the factory. Interior trim is made of high quality wood. Usually beech or oak is used. The metal frame of the train is also being restored. Restoration work is also underway on the technical side. If necessary, the specialists repair the engine, transmission, brake system and other mechanical parts.
The final step is painting and decorating in the style of the era represented by steam locomotives. After the reconstruction is completed, the equipment is tested to ensure its safety and performance. The trains are then prepared for operation on the railway lines.
Painting old railway equipment has a number of features. First, the technique must match the style and era it represents. To convey the spirit of the times, traditional colors and patterns are used, as well as decorative elements such as logos and inscriptions. At the same time, the painting must be of high quality and durable in order to preserve the appearance of the train for a long time. Secondly, it is important to take into account the requirements of safety and ecology when choosing coatings and materials. In this case, when painting a steam locomotive, work is carried out with high gloss paints. Which, roughly speaking, shine.
Everything is painted wet on wet. After the primer is applied to the frame of the train, without waiting for it to dry completely, the specialists immediately put a layer of paint. This process can take several days, as there are many flowers, and it takes some time between layers of painting for the material to dry. All work is carried out in a professional spray booth, which is very convenient. The built-in drying mode significantly reduces the drying time of the paint. So, in a couple of days you can already apply a new color.
Before painting, railway equipment is shot-blasted. To clean metal from old paint and rust and prepare it for new painting. So, the surface is rough. On it, the new material will hold better.
All the trains presented in this review are for narrow-gauge railways. This is a 157 series steam locomotive and an AM-1 railcar. After restoration, many of them will add to the collection of equipment of the Sverdlovsk Children's Railway.
In addition to the children's railway, there is another narrow gauge railway near Yekaterinburg. She is in Alapaevsk. Perhaps there will be a new tourist route with old wagons with locomotive traction.
At the moment, there are already retro trains with standard wheel widths. With locomotive traction. The Ural Express runs between Yekaterinburg and Verkhnyaya Pyshma. In addition, in Russia, similar trains run in Karelia, and also run along the banks of Lake Baikal and Seliger. Such routes are created in order to acquaint people with the history of railway transport, to give an opportunity to feel the atmosphere of the past, to enjoy the beauties of nature and the environment. And also as part of a travel program to explore new places and cultures.