 | 2-01. Karpinskogo Ul. / Tsentralnaya Ul. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. The tram leaves the southern settlement of Volchanka for a 5,5 km ride through the taiga forest toward the northern settlement of Lesnaya Volchanka. According to initial plans laid out in the late 1940s, at the height of the coal industry development extravaganza, the southern settlement was to extend further north. In reality, however, this was as far as things had gotten built. The tram is crossing Tsentralnaya Ul. [Center St.], which was to divide the southern settlement in two halves. This is also the site of the proposed grand Main Square. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-02. The taiga forest at the proposed corner of
Karpinskogo Ul. / 8 Marta Ul. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. As the line cuts through the untouched forest, it follows three curves that seem to be rather irrational. The tracks were laid according to the initial 1949 tramway development plan, which anticipated the expansion of the southern settlement that never took place. In the 1950s, when the line first opened, it was common to build the tramway line first, and to follow with the construction of the actual city later. Thus, we are looking at the city intersection that never came true. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-03. Near the Kirpichniy Zavod. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. An opening in the forestry is used for this photo-op. This area was the site of the previously existed village attached to the brick factory, literally called Poselok Kirpichnogo Zavoda [The Village of the Brick Factory]. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-04a. The only passing point on the line, in the
vicinity of the former Poselok Kirpichnogo Zavoda. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. The passing point fell out of use in the early 2006, when the town has settled for the end of the two-car operation scheme. Only one car runs on the line ever since. This was also as far as trams used to go upon the initial opening of the line 31.12.1951 from the northern settlement of Lesnaya Volchanka to Poselok Kirpichnogo Zavoda. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-04b. The only passing point on the line, in the
vicinity of the former Poselok Kirpichnogo Zavoda. KTM-5M3 car 7, southbound, on the left. KTM-5M3 car 3, northbound, on the right. Two trams were used in service during the first half of the day until 13:00 throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s. Only one tram worked the line during the second half of the day. In this photo, car 3 chartered by foreign tramfans meets a regular service tram. (20 Jun 1995, Aare Olander) |
 | 2-05. Near the railroad crossing at Razrez
2. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. Despite a popular fable that insists that trams in Volchansk run through untouched virgin taiga forest, this only applies to about 2,5 km of the line north of the southern settlement of Volchanka. Even though still in the forest, the reminder of the interurban section of tramway line north of Razrez 2 [the open cut coal-mining pit number 2] follows the motor road and thus is not as virgin anymore. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-06. The by-request-only stop at Razrez 2. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. Four tramway stops located in the middle of the forest between the southern and the northern settlements, are seldom used. Here the tram passes one of such stops at full speed. The stop is not cleaned up, and a willing passenger would find himself buried up to the waste in snow, if dared to request a stop. For the last few days ever since the latest snowfall, no one did, as could be told from absence of footprints. There is no stop-request mechanism on trams. The operator is obliged to look in the interior rear-view mirror prior to each stop, to determine whether any passenger intends to exit by means of moving toward the door. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-07a. The Razrez 1 area. The TU's snowplough tractor at work. Northbound. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-07b. The Razrez 1 area. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. The tram negotiates the invisible trackage after the tractor-snowplough passed through. Amazingly, the tram does not slow down. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-07c. The Razrez 1 area. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. Note the position of the poles. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-08. The Razrez 1 area. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. Northbound trams run at slower speeds through this section as they negotiate a very long yet seldom noticed to the naked eye gradual uphill slope. Southbound trams run at much higher speeds. Somehow the uphill struggle is most evident for this newest Spektr tram. Because of a number of consecutive slopes along the line, northbound trips generally take 4 to 5 minutes longer, than southbound trips. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-09a. The southern edge of Lesnaya Volchanka near
the former Lesozavod. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. The front view from the tram approaching Lesnaya Volchanka from the south. The malfunctioning signals precede the crossing with the unused railroad branch to the former sawmill factory. The snow-removing tractor usually follows the line twice, each time with caterpillar tracks positioned between the heads of rails. This often leaves one of rails under even more snow. Even though the technique is supposed to help preserve tracks, it does not ensure that rails are never crossed by caterpillar tracks. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-09b. The southern edge of Lesnaya Volchanka near
the former Lesozavod. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. Near the same spot, external view. A rare site of an automobile spoils the virginity of the shot. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-10a. The railroad crossing at Pervomayskaya
Ul. Spektr 71-402. Northbound. As the motor road crosses tramway tracks, it boasts all the amenities of a full railroad crossing. Actually, it is the railroad crossing. As tram tracks parallel regular railroad tracks, all the appropriate traffic amenities extend to trams as well. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
 | 2-10b. The railroad crossing at Pervomayskaya
Ul. Spektr 71-402. Southbound. The same crossing, an expanded view. The photographer is standing on railroad tracks near by. (08 Feb 2007, YM) |
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