In the Soviet Union, there were many mysterious and interesting objects, the true purpose of which was not discussed for a long time. Some of them raise questions and surprise even today. One of these construction projects is the railway line, which was never completed. We are talking about the Salekhard-Igarka railway.
1. How it all began?
It cannot be said that the idea of building railway tracks with the prospect of a subsequent exit directly to the Bering Strait, as well as a possible connection with Alaska, was something new. It arose back when Alexander II was in power.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many ideas and projects appeared that were related to the construction of railway tracks in the Polar region. At the end of the Second World War, the Arctic Research Institute substantiated the need to build a number of strategic and very important facilities for the state.
04/22/1947 the corresponding document was signed. According to him, the construction of the seaport was supposed to begin. The place of its construction was supposed to be the Kamenny Cape on the Ob Bay. The plans also included bringing to it railway tracks from Vorkuta, more precisely from the Pechora highway. Towards the end of the 48th year of the last century, the movement of working trains was opened on the Chum-Labytnangi railway section.
During the active period of construction, it became clear that the territory of the Gulf of Ob is absolutely not suitable for equipping a port here. The reason is shallow water. In this connection, the Council of Ministers of the USSR on 01/29/1949 The following Decree was signed stating that construction on Yamal was liquidated, and the port with other facilities was moved to Igarka, in connection with which the Salekhard-Igarka road was needed. Its duration with all river crossings was supposed to be 1263 kilometers.
2. Construction of the "Dead Road"
It was assumed that the construction work will be carried out according to a lightweight technical scheme. It cannot be said that the road was of high quality. The climate, construction features, and consumables also affected. Even the carriages were not of the best quality. They, like the rails, left much to be desired. By the way, about the rails: they were built from what was. Some of them were released in the thirties, or even in pre-revolutionary times. The embankment was also only up to two meters high. All this led to the fact that the railway line required regular maintenance.
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Whatever it was, but the highway was partially built and even functioned until Stalin's death. After his death, the construction site was mothballed, and eventually closed altogether. They considered that the expenses did not justify themselves and, perhaps, it was so. During the construction, more than 40 billion rubles were spent - an incredible amount for that period.
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All equipment, steam locomotives and wagons remained at the construction site. It was simply not profitable to export them. It turned out to be easier and cheaper to leave them there. Today this site is completely abandoned and destroyed. Only tourists and scrap metal hunters visit it. But even for the latter, it is of less and less interest.
Continuing the topic, read about a bold experiment of domestic engineers - an off-road train.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/300620/55114/