Something else about the freight trains, this time about the locomotives. Are Russian locomotives allowed in the Baltics, Belarus and Ukraine? And are locomotives from that countries allowed in Russia too, or is the security system different? For example, here in the Netherlands are only trains allowed that have the Dutch security system, the width and height aren't to high, the front have to be white or yellow that has to be at least 1 square meter (very stupid rule, I know so many trains here that don't have a white or yellow front) and for electric trains if they can run on 1500V DC.

[quote=Railion 1600;117439]Something else about the freight trains, this time about the locomotives. Are Russian locomotives allowed in the Baltics, Belarus and Ukraine? And are locomotives from that countries allowed in Russia too, or is the security system different? For example, here in the Netherlands are only trains allowed that have the Dutch security system, the width and height aren't to high, the front have to be white or yellow that has to be at least 1 square meter (very stupid rule, I know so many trains here that don't have a white or yellow front) and for electric trains if they can run on 1500V DC.[/quote]

Russian train services are done in "legs" So say Moscow-Border to Belarus is Russian train, then an Belorussin train, etc. I know of cases that USSR and Russia purchased US, and German locomotives to pick apart and study, but I do not know how they were transported.

On another note Siemens Velaro (basically your ICE 3 runs nicely on AC/DC combination all the way from St. Petersburg to Moscow, but it's new and not freight)

I hope that got something covered.

The ICE3 is an older model, and the Russian Velaro 'Sapsan' is an newer model, as far I know. There are 2 ICE3 versions, a `normal` ICE3 (this one can only run on 15 kV AC) and the ICE3M (this one can run on 15 kV AC, 25 kV AC, 3 kV DC and 1,5 kV DC). So the ICE3M is the version that runs here. At this: [url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40012911@N06/3875529738/[/url] picture, taken by myself in Emmerich (Germany, just behind the border with the Netherlands) you can see that there isn't a pantograph in use now. Here changes the voltage between the German 15 kV AC and the Dutch 1,5 kV DC.
But if there aren't locomotive changes at borders, it was possible to drive with more different locomotives on Russian route's.

[quote=Railion 1600;117459]The ICE3 is an older model, and the Russian Velaro 'Sapsan' is an newer model, as far I know. There are 2 ICE3 versions, a `normal` ICE3 (this one can only run on 15 kV AC) and the ICE3M (this one can run on 15 kV AC, 25 kV AC, 3 kV DC and 1,5 kV DC). So the ICE3M is the version that runs here. At this: [URL]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40012911@N06/3875529738/[/URL] picture, taken by myself in Emmerich (Germany, just behind the border with the Netherlands) you can see that there isn't a pantograph in use now. Here changes the voltage between the German 15 kV AC and the Dutch 1,5 kV DC.
But if there aren't locomotive changes at borders, it was possible to drive with more different locomotives on Russian route's.[/quote]

I see youære trying to sneak in some foreigners on our proud rails? Never! :P Just pulling your tail.

I would love to see foreign locomotives, but I'm afraid our "rembrigady" (The fixing crews) Would defecate bricks, Foreign locomotives are not used to our rails, or our rails to them, and noone can fix them.

[QUOTE=Damien Zhar;117461]I see youжre trying to sneak in some foreigners on our proud rails? Never! :P Just pulling your tail.

I would love to see foreign locomotives, but I'm afraid our "rembrigady" (The fixing crews) Would defecate bricks, Foreign locomotives are not used to our rails, or our rails to them, and noone can fix them.[/QUOTE]

I miss some Russian trains here! A few years ago were the Ludmilla's in use here, and I miss the cool desing and the great sounds of the Kolomna engines very much:( And this: [url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40012911@N06/3875538600/[/url] silly locomotives have replaced the great Ludmilla's. I will never forget them.

[quote=Railion 1600;117465]I miss some Russian trains here! A few years ago were the Ludmilla's in use here, and I miss the cool desing and the great sounds of the Kolomna engines very much:( And this: [URL]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40012911@N06/3875538600/[/URL] silly locomotives have replaced the great Ludmilla's. I will never forget them.[/quote]

It is heartwarming, that someone loves our old Ludmillas, thank you for careing, but as such, they are not "Russian" They are adapted for European width and condition I guess, but if you ever get nostalgic, come over and I'll show you dirty old Ludmilla's, rawr.

[QUOTE=Damien Zhar;117478]It is heartwarming, that someone loves our old Ludmillas, thank you for careing, but as such, they are not "Russian" They are adapted for European width and condition I guess, but if you ever get nostalgic, come over and I'll show you dirty old Ludmilla's, rawr.[/QUOTE]

It isn't easy for me to come to Russia for a few trains, but I hope that I can see the Russian versions at least once in my life;)

[quote=Railion 1600;117482]It isn't easy for me to come to Russia for a few trains, but I hope that I can see the Russian versions at least once in my life;)[/quote]

You are missing out on all the goodies, like Te3, Er1 and such, hurry, before they got sawed up for scraps, and replaced with boring stupid Velaro's and CargoNet's

The plants constucted ludmila's (the engines constructed at Kolomna, but final assembling was at Lugansk, Ukraine) continue their work, but, may it be, CargoNet are better for price/quality... sites are [url]http://www.kolomnadiesel.com[/url] and [url]http://www.luganskteplovoz.com[/url]