TEM2U-9278 light transfer, Zhairem mines, May the 2nd 2025.
If you drive north west away from Karazhal you will eventually, after sighting spoil heaps on the horizon for some time, cross a single track railway. A dirt road runs parallel with this track, these thoroughfares connect two new opencast mines. Of course we already know about these and set about seeing if there are any trains. To the west is the end of the line, the main mine complex complete with ore preparation works, railway operating centre, offices, everything.
We check it out and see nothing, not of the locomotive kind anyway. But as we drive away a TEM2 heads out, towards the far mine, six kilometres or so to the east. So we follow its progress, and observe it shunting the east complex in the distance, with another locomotive. when they move forward they produce voluminous smoke, blasting skyward. These mines exploit lead and zinc deposits, heavy. If this train comes this way, we can see the gradient...
And so we about turn the car, back to the main road, over the level crossing and down the side onto the grassland below, bouncing the rental car along rutted tracks on the steppe, up to a suitable vantage point.
And then we wait. The trains shunts back and forth. Back and forth. The mosquitoes find us. The sun drops lower. And eventually, a headlamp can bee seen, the TEM2 is ambling back in out direction. But no train!
Oh well, the crew are happy to see us there, they wave back enthusiastically.
Its time to find a place to stay for the night...
TEM2U-9278 runs light between the two opencast mines of Zhairem, Ulytau Region. These new mines, worked by Kazzinc and ultimately owned by Glencore, exploit the lead and zinc deposits here with an ore preparation plant located at the main, western complex. This locomotive had completed shunting manoeuvres at the mines seen beyond and was working back to the depot in the main complex here.
Note the fire extinguishers grouped up by the locomotives cabin. May the 2nd 2025.
TEM2U-9278 light transfer, Zhairem mines, May the 2nd 2025.
If you drive north west away from Karazhal you will eventually, after sighting spoil heaps on the horizon for some time, cross a single track railway. A dirt road runs parallel with this track, these thoroughfares connect two new opencast mines. Of course we already know about these and set about seeing if there are any trains. To the west is the end of the line, the main mine complex complete with ore preparation works, railway operating centre, offices, everything.
We check it out and see nothing, not of the locomotive kind anyway. But as we drive away a TEM2 heads out, towards the far mine, six kilometres or so to the east. So we follow its progress, and observe it shunting the east complex in the distance, with another locomotive. when they move forward they produce voluminous smoke, blasting skyward. These mines exploit lead and zinc deposits, heavy. If this train comes this way, we can see the gradient...
And so we about turn the car, back to the main road, over the level crossing and down the side onto the grassland below, bouncing the rental car along rutted tracks on the steppe, up to a suitable vantage point.
And then we wait. The trains shunts back and forth. Back and forth. The mosquitoes find us. The sun drops lower. And eventually, a headlamp can bee seen, the TEM2 is ambling back in out direction. But no train!
Oh well, the crew are happy to see us there, they wave back enthusiastically.
Its time to find a place to stay for the night...
TEM2U-9278 runs light between the two opencast mines of Zhairem, Ulytau Region. These new mines, worked by Kazzinc and ultimately owned by Glencore, exploit the lead and zinc deposits here with an ore preparation plant located at the main, western complex. This locomotive had completed shunting manoeuvres at the mines seen beyond and was working back to the depot in the main complex here.
Note the fire extinguishers grouped up by the locomotives cabin. May the 2nd 2025.