KTZ TE3-6793 and TEM2U-8750 at the Coal Enrichment Plant no1 Kyzhyl Karagandy 1 May 2025
Within the shunting yeards of the Coal Enrichment Plant no.1 at Kyzhyl, Karagandy lies a battered old relic. It works, but not to its designed state. Its traction motors are utilised through remote control by overhead wires to move rakes of wagons through the coal unloading bunker. The battered hulking frame and body of this locomotive are enough to carry out this basic function.
We knew it was here but its a good walk into what was forbidden territory to reach it. Today, the mood is good. We have already made a favourable meet with Ochrona so we will go for it, parking up by the big Belaz tippers at the spoil bunker.
There are fitters inside the TE3. Who are we, where are we from. What is our authority to be here? I tell him all I can and we persist in our activity, what, having got this far. Consider the distance home!
Meanwhile a rake of loaded coal wagons are shunting in, right next to us by the TEM2U-8750 and its crew. They just look at us, carrying on with their activities. Surely they are all aware of this relic we are looking at.
The fitter tells me he is calling the Ochrona, where was it I was from?
This is of course inevitable!
I can perhaps finish here.
But why.
I call Sven over, we must leave now. As we walk back down, do NOT panic.. we see a white helmet crossing over a footbridge to greet us.
There will be no avoidance. There cannot be. We must remain calm.
Why are we here, what are we doing?
After a confalb of confusion he says, speak in English, I can understand.
I tell him, here in the UK, the last coal mine shut down three years ago. Steel making is on its knees. The powers do not want it. We have come here to see this.
He stands perplexed, he is maybe in his late 30s. HE swing his arm across, gesturing at this huge facility. " Why? Why would they do that?
This is my everyday, this here, its always here"
With that there is understanding. We are free to go.
Thank you Coal Enrichment Plant no1, I really mean that.
TE3-6793 of Lugansk Locomotive Works , 1967. The locomotive is now converted to a remote controlled electric for the spoil collection at the bunkers of the Coal Enrichment plant no. one of the Quarmet operated Shakhtinsk coal railways, Karagandy. May the 1st 2025.
Alongside, TEM2U-8750 shunts in a loaded rake of coal wagons into the unloading bunker.
KTZ TE3-6793 and TEM2U-8750 at the Coal Enrichment Plant no1 Kyzhyl Karagandy 1 May 2025
Within the shunting yeards of the Coal Enrichment Plant no.1 at Kyzhyl, Karagandy lies a battered old relic. It works, but not to its designed state. Its traction motors are utilised through remote control by overhead wires to move rakes of wagons through the coal unloading bunker. The battered hulking frame and body of this locomotive are enough to carry out this basic function.
We knew it was here but its a good walk into what was forbidden territory to reach it. Today, the mood is good. We have already made a favourable meet with Ochrona so we will go for it, parking up by the big Belaz tippers at the spoil bunker.
There are fitters inside the TE3. Who are we, where are we from. What is our authority to be here? I tell him all I can and we persist in our activity, what, having got this far. Consider the distance home!
Meanwhile a rake of loaded coal wagons are shunting in, right next to us by the TEM2U-8750 and its crew. They just look at us, carrying on with their activities. Surely they are all aware of this relic we are looking at.
The fitter tells me he is calling the Ochrona, where was it I was from?
This is of course inevitable!
I can perhaps finish here.
But why.
I call Sven over, we must leave now. As we walk back down, do NOT panic.. we see a white helmet crossing over a footbridge to greet us.
There will be no avoidance. There cannot be. We must remain calm.
Why are we here, what are we doing?
After a confalb of confusion he says, speak in English, I can understand.
I tell him, here in the UK, the last coal mine shut down three years ago. Steel making is on its knees. The powers do not want it. We have come here to see this.
He stands perplexed, he is maybe in his late 30s. HE swing his arm across, gesturing at this huge facility. " Why? Why would they do that?
This is my everyday, this here, its always here"
With that there is understanding. We are free to go.
Thank you Coal Enrichment Plant no1, I really mean that.
TE3-6793 of Lugansk Locomotive Works , 1967. The locomotive is now converted to a remote controlled electric for the spoil collection at the bunkers of the Coal Enrichment plant no. one of the Quarmet operated Shakhtinsk coal railways, Karagandy. May the 1st 2025.
Alongside, TEM2U-8750 shunts in a loaded rake of coal wagons into the unloading bunker.