Trans Siberian - An Addendum

DEAR READER: YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED OUR BLOG ABSENCE FOR 4 WEEKS. THIS WAS DUE TO CHINESE FIREWALL RESTRICTIONS AND THEIR DETESTATION OF EVERYTHING GOOGLE. WE WILL NOW UPDATE OUR BLOGS FOR THIS PERIOD, AND BACKDATE THE POSTS SO THAT THEY APPEAR IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. WE, AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, APOLOGISE SINCERELY FOR "CONCERNED OPPORTUNITIES OF SADNESS AND BAD FEELING".

I take it all back.

We travelled from Mongolia to Beijing on a Mongolian operated/serviced train from Ulanbaataar. I now understand why everyone else didn't quite feel the same way as me about the Trans Siberian. This train had mini TVs, was sparkling clean, and had conductors that cleaned incessantly every 10 minutes. It appears that my advice about TS travel should be that you ONLY go on Russian or Mongolian operated services!

As you cross from Mongolia to China, you have to have the undercarriage and wheels changed. This is supposed to be a horrid 6 hour experience. I actually really enjoyed it! The train carriages are separated and shunted into these sheds. Each of the sets of wheels are unclipped from the carriage above (literally by one clip per undercarriage) and the carriage is then lifted on hydraulic platforms. They then push out all 12 or so of the wheel sets one end (the whole underside disappeared) and then push in the new ones from the other way, lower the carriage and clip you back onto it - and hey presto off you go. The train is then put back together again and you're away. Was really cool to watch (I now admit to being very sad indeed).

The views in Mongolia and China were also incredibly interesting and beautiful - the final two days of the TS kick the ass off the first 5 going through Russia!

BT8_Trans Siberian Addendum 5-6 Aug 2010