Rīgas bērnu dzelzceļš (Riga Children's railway) was opened in 1956 in Mežaparks forest. It was used mainly by young railway students for education purposes, as well as attraction for children.
In 1997 the railway was closed and few years later disasembled.
See how Komjauniešu station on Children's railway was looking in 1980s:
Riga is changing as every living creature does and so do I. After many months of wandering around the world I am coming back to Riga.
Brand new photos taken with brand new camera and new untold short stories about Riga are on its way.
On the picture is the same railroad from to Jurmala to Riga, but this photo is taken 5 years later.
Railway station is one of the few points worth to see in Priedaine (another one is White Dune)
Priedaine is located on right coast of Lielupe river and it is the most closest Jurmala's neighborhood from Riga.
This photo is the beginning of my road story to Lithuania via coastline. Next stop is cafe in Jaunkemeri
Latvia highly depends economically on through transit of gas and oil from Russia further to Western World. Tank cars were photographed next to Jugla station.
Pavilions of Central Market is remarkable sight of Riga since the market grand opening in 1930. The famous urban legend says that these pavilions were used as hangars for dirigibles before. In fact they were built using reinforcing steel, which were only designed for hangars, but never used so. Nowadays Riga Market is the biggest in Europe and has been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the picture are 2 of 5 market's hangars - vegetable and fish pavilion.
Railway station Zasulauks (old Germanic name Sassenhof) is located between stations Tornakalns and Depo on the Riga - Jurmala railroad. Initially Zasulauks was opened in 1873 as part of Riga - Bolderaja railroad, which now is being used only by freight trains.
During early Soviet times more than 50 000 people living in Latvia were deported to Siberia and Central Asia in such wagons. It was about 2% of country population and all of them were classified as enemies of workers. Deportation of Latvian people was just a little part of something much bigger. Total more than 3 millions of people were transferred in USSR for 8 years between 1941 and 1949. It was a big crime against freedom and human being in general.
This wagon is forever parked at Tornakalns station, which is infamous because of such events. See also another memorial to deported children. BTW, Ozols has a great rap song about this events called Deportacija.
Depot of Passenger trains in Riga. All passenger train cars in Latvia are painted in orange color, which makes them different wherever they go. In fact, they go only to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine because of Russian gauge. Latvia is not connected directly to Western Europe by railway.
Railway Bridge over frozen Daugava river. Skyscrapers buildings of Panorama Plaza at the background are disturbing Pardaugava's flat panorama. By the way, this view was used in the movie Escape from City 17, the creation of movie was inspired by Half-Life game. Guest Photographer: Vlad
Now the most breaking news in Latvia is the fire of several tank cars near Ventspils town. The incident caused by collision of oil car and benzine car. It is said that 2 dead bodies already found. The flame of is as big as it can be seen from far distance.
After Soviet Union collapse all writings in Russian language were replaced by Latvian. I wonder how this plate written in Cyrillic alphabet survived ;) Locomotive was parked not far from Zemitani railway station.
Riga - Maskava aka Рига - Москва (Riga - Moscow) is one of few regular international train routes connecting Latvia to the rest of the world ;) Moscow route is the most popular, especially during the summer, more than 20 carriages full of people departing twice per day from Riga Railway Station to Riga Station in Moscow.
Everyday thousands of people are using railway to get into center from suburbs like Zolitūde. During the rush hour trains are coming and departing almost every 5 minutes transporting live cargo.
Riga Free Port is one of the biggest on Baltic Sea. Up to 50% of cargo turnover is made up of transit coal. Trains with coal come from Russia and Ukraine to Riga Free Port Then cargo cranes load ships going to rest of the world.
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