Family holidays with children should be not only fun, but also informative. It will be a great place for such a small trip children's railway in Kratov. Here, children and their parents will become more familiar with the work of railway workers and take a ride on a train run by teenagers, they also serve it.
History of occurrence
The Children's Railway in Kratov began its history in 1935. On October 30, at a congress of pioneers, it was decided to build a railway line in the Moscow region. To do this, in several schools, circles for training in railway business were created.
This idea was supported by the Moscow-Ryazan Railway Administration, and with the help of specialists, the guys independently created a plan for the future railway and conducted research activities. During the summer holidays in 1936, the pioneers began construction work, which they themselves did.
In the process of the most difficult work, Komsomol members from neighboring regions helped the pioneers. They also repaired three old carriages made of wood, which were called VL-1. From historical documents it is impossible to find out exactly how long this train was in operation. He was replaced by a new one - IS-1, which was built at the Kolomna plant.
All work was completed in April 1937. The opening took place on May 2 of the same year. The children's railway in Kratov has been developing more and more every year. In 1940, a train station and additional kilometers of tracks were built.
During the Second World War, the roads were destroyed. After the war, the pioneers and Komsomol members restored them, and the railway worked at full strength.
Small Moscow Children's Railway in Kratovo: reconstruction
In 1957, repairs were carried out at the Pionerskaya station. This event was timed to the receipt of a new diesel locomotive with four cars from Poland. The year 1971 was designated for a complete reconstruction of the tracks. At the stations, technical changes occurred:
- route-relay centralization ("Pioneer");
- electrical centralization ("The Way of Ilyich");
- auto lock (on stages).
In 1979, at the Pionerskaya station, a building was built for training and laboratory work. Here, young railway workers could engage in theory and practice. In 2002, a fire broke out at the Yunost station, and all buildings burned down. In 2003, the buildings were renewed and improved.
In 2005, a complete reconstruction of the small railway was planned and carried out. Fully restored central station. The depot was rebuilt using modern materials. Now it can accommodate several diesel locomotives and all cars. It now hosts guided tours and lectures.
Wooden paths were replaced with metal ones. Good repairs were made inside the cars - the seats are soft and comfortable. In 2013-2014, repair work was carried out on the office building and stations.
Rail Features
The total length of the tracks is 4.962 km. This distance is enough for adults and children to enjoy an interesting ride on an unusual train. Children's Railway in Kratov has two stations:
These stations have two platforms:
The tracks here are narrow gauge, and trains are designed for them. All work is performed by children under the guidance of adult professionals. Platforms and stations have been restored and have a modern look.
What children work on the railway
The Small Children's Railway in Kratovo is a place where all functions are performed by children. But these are not ordinary guys from the street. They undergo long training and pass exams. Sometimes the knowledge of young railway workers is deeper than that of adult specialists. This is due to serious preparation for several years.
Only a teenager who passes all exams perfectly for a certain period of time can become a driver. But this does not mean that he will occupy this post for a long time. In the case of poor exams, he is once again demoted. This selection goes to all professions.
Study takes place in the autumn-winter period according to a strict schedule. In the process of training, professional railway workers take part. Adolescents who have been fully trained on the Small Road and want to connect their life with it in the future, almost always enter the relevant universities on preferential terms.
Moscow Children's Railway (Kratovo): duties of adolescents
The guys do all the work here. As on a real railway, children work in different specialties:
- machinists;
- controllers;
- conductors;
- dispatchers
- mechanics.
Young workers have a uniform. She is very similar to the clothes of the Soviet guys, but this is a kind of coincidence. Now, in the same tones, the official form of the workers of the Russian Railway has been completed. These are strict combinations of white and black tones with the addition of a bright accent - a red tie.
During the trip, the guides tell tourists the history of the railway and its attractions. Young visitors can observe the process of coupling cars to a diesel locomotive. You can also visit the depot and sit in the driver's cab.
There are 4 crossings along the entire length of the tracks, and children along with adults are also on duty. They are trained to translate arrows in both manual and automatic modes.
50 teenagers aged 11-16 take part in servicing the flight of one train. These are the guys who are not only on the train, but also at every station, level crossing, in the office. The train has 6 wagons, and they are almost always full.
How to get there
Located near Moscow children's railway in Kratovo. How to get to Kratovo by public transport? The easiest way can be considered a trip on electric trains that go along the Ryazan direction. You need to exit at the Yunost or Pionerskaya stations.
By car, you need to move along the Novoryazanskoye highway before turning to Zhukovsky. You need to get to the traffic lights and turn towards the city of Ramenskoye. Drive along Nizhny Novgorod street and cross two crossings. After the last one, park in the parking lot, 50 meters from it is the Yunost station.
Both methods take a small amount of time and are very convenient. Ample parking is available near the station for personal transport. There you can safely leave the car while traveling by train.
Infrastructure
In the village of Kratovo is an excellent entertainment center. It housed several modern children's playgrounds with vibrant attractions. Nearby is a cafe and several small shops.
In a pine forest near the station there is a clean pond with beaches. On the shore and near it, you can ride a child on electric cars or horses. Clean pine air is a great addition to a walk.
Convenient shops are located around the central building, and the whole territory is buried in flower beds. Everywhere is clean and tidy. Here it is - the children's railway in Kratovo. Photos on all resources and in this article testify to this.
In the shops of the village you can buy the necessary food and drinks. On the way back, you can stroll through a beautiful and cozy park. You can relax and eat in a small and quiet cafe.
Mode of operation
Train traffic is highly dependent on weather conditions. On rainy and cold days, work is not carried out. The children's railway in Kratovo (2016 was no exception) opens at the usual time - at the end of May.
For many years in a row, stations operate only during the summer holidays. Usually the season opens in late May and lasts until the end of August (last Sunday). The rest of the time, the guys undergo active training.
In bad weather, train traffic stops to avoid traumatic situations and accidents. Sometimes business days are missed due to exams that are held periodically for the railway workers.
There are three flights per day (subject to good weather). The first train leaves at about 10 a.m. The whole journey takes 20-25 minutes. During this time, you can not only admire the scenery outside the train window, but also learn a lot about the railway in general. What are the children's railway reviews in Kratovo?
What do the reviews say?
On the Internet, a sufficient number of reviews about the rest on the Small Railway. All of them are mostly positive. Parents note comfortable soft benches and neat little tables in the cars.
Babies, according to moms, really like to watch the process of cohesion of cars. Children love to sit in a diesel locomotive and look at the operator’s control panel. Older children like to watch teenagers work at all stages of their journey. They are interested in communicating with their peers and learning from them interesting stories about trains.
Many parents note the increased interest of children in trains after visiting the Small Railway. Most often, the guys demand that they return here more than once. Teens after talking with young railway workers are eager to join them.
Numerous parental reviews indicate a good location for playgrounds and a neat beach on the pond. This makes it possible to diversify your vacation in Kratovo. Inexpensive tickets allow the whole family to spend time here.
The disadvantages include a short period of time between train movements and an early last flight. Also, many parents would like more entertaining moments for young children.
Contacts
The small railway is located in the Moscow region, in the village of Kratovo. The main office is located on Tsentralnaya street 5. There is a dispatching service and an office for managing personnel. The distance to the center of the village is no more than 1 km.
You can find out all the nuances of the station and the mode of train traffic by phone: (49646) 3-62-89. It is better to call from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - the working hours of the Small Railway. Before the trip, it is advisable to call the manager and find out the exact mode of work on the necessary day.