For many decades, the children's railway in Kiev has been one of the favorite forms of entertainment for boys and girls. She safely exchanged the seventh dozen and is still operating today, bringing joy to the young residents of the Ukrainian capital and its guests.
Background
In the USSR, much attention was paid to the career guidance of the younger generation. To this end, boys and girls tried to generate interest in various popular professions from an early age. That is why the initiative of the Georgian railway workers, who in 1935 created the first Russian Railways in Tiflis (now Tbilisi), was picked up in other republics of the Soviet Union. Over the next 6 years, about 20 children's railways began to operate in the country (in Moscow, Yerevan, Poti, Gorky, etc.). They served not just as an attraction intended for entertaining children. All “official duties” on the Railways, of course, under the supervision of adult support, were performed by boys and girls aged 10-15 years. During the war years, many children's railways of the USSR were destroyed or ceased to function, but in the second half of the 20th century they were rebuilt and built more than a dozen new ones, including in the territory of modern Ukraine.
The opening of the Kiev Railway
In 1953, the Park named after the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution (now Syretsky) was set up in the capital of the Ukrainian SSR. Initially, it was created as a place where the children's railway will operate. In Kiev, by that time, the Young Railwayman circle had already been organized. There, the children studied the specialties of the driver, dispatcher, station duty officer, guide and cashier.
Very soon, the Park named after the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution became a favorite place for families of Kiev residents and guests of the capital of Soviet Ukraine. A playground was equipped there, where today simulators are placed for those who want to keep themselves in good physical shape.
Initially, there were 3 stations: Komsomolskaya (main), Pionerskaya and Tekhnicheskaya.
In the 80s, the Children's Railway in Kiev, the reviews of which are presented below, served passengers, launching 3 trains of 4 cars each. Each had a name and was painted in a specific color. The first was called the Eaglet, and its wagons from afar were recognized by their red-brown color. The second - "Cheburashka" (later "Kid") - was green, and the third - "Pioneer" - blue.
In the 90s, for well-known reasons, the park fell into decay and almost closed completely.
Reconstruction
In 2001, large-scale works were carried out in Syretsky Park. A training building with a computer room and two classes was built at the Vyshenka head station. In addition, they improved the territory and repaired the TU7 diesel locomotives and 3 Pafawag wagons. The construction of the depot was also begun, but it was completed only in 2005. Then, the Gr-336 steam locomotive was brought to the children's railway in Kiev. In addition, a fenced area was equipped for the rolling stock.
Description
Today, Syretsky Park is a cozy green zone, along the perimeter of which railway lines are laid. DZhD is equipped with 6 operating traffic lights, train, station and locomotive radio communications, semi-automatic blocking of tracks and other equipment. The wagons and locomotives of the Kiev Children's Railway (photo above) please the eye with a magnificent interior and exterior. They are served by young guides who check passengers' tickets and put marks on them using a hole punch. They change at the stations, and repair boys check the technical condition of the rolling stock.
Route
The first thing that interests those who decide to visit the children's railway in Kiev is the train schedule. It is quite simple. In the summer, on weekends and holidays, trains depart from the Yablonka station, starting at 11:00 every 20 minutes. They reach the station "Cherry" on the ring paths with a total length of 2.8 km and move back to the main platform through the viaduct bridge. It was built over a deep ravine, where during the war there was a Nazi concentration camp, at an altitude of 19.6 meters and has a length of 100 meters.
The duration of the trip is 20 minutes. On the way, passengers have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful landscapes.
Rolling stock
Every year, on the opening day of the season or on important holidays, a Gr-336 veteran steam engine leaves on the way. This narrow-gauge locomotive, which was delivered to the USSR from Germany in the post-war period, works on wood. It weighs 26 tons and is capable of speeds of 35 km / h. By the way, in Kiev there are only 2 locomotives. On the second of them excursion trips are made from the Central Station of Kiev. A couple of decades ago it was modernized, and it works on fuel oil. So, in order to take a ride on a real locomotive, which is heated by firewood, visitors to the Syretsky park have to build a long line.
In 2013, three PV51 wagons entered the Kiev children's railway, of which a second train was formed. Unfortunately, the project was not implemented, according to which it was supposed to cross the routes of 2 locomotives with wagons moving towards each other.
Children's Railway in Kiev: address
Syretsky park has excellent transport accessibility. For example, from the "adult" Kiev railway station to the stop "st. Shevtsova ”, located near the entrance to Syretsky Park, where the railway is located, tram N15 runs. In addition, you can get there by metro (station "Dorogozhichi"), by bus N103 or trolley buses N16, 22, 33, 19, 27, or to the stop "Babi Yar". Address: Kiev, st. Timofey Shamrylo, 4.
The working hours of the children's railway in Kiev and the cost of tickets
You can ride on JD:
- from the beginning of May to June 10 on Sundays and on holidays from 11:00 to 15:30;
- from 10.06 to the end of August - on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 15:30.
In the cold season, trains do not run, but there is a school for young railway workers, where boys and girls receive theoretical knowledge that they can put into practice in summer and in adulthood if they choose the profession of a railway worker.
To clarify whether DZhD works on a particular day, or to obtain other information of interest, you can contact the administration by phone, which can be found in the directories.
In order to ride on the Kiev children's railway, children under 6 years old do not need a ticket. For the rest, the services of JD are paid. Tickets for boys and girls over 6 years old will cost 18 hryvnias, and an “adult” costs 24 hryvnias.
As you can see, a visit to the children's railway in Kiev will not breach even a very modest family budget. This pricing policy was proclaimed initially in order to make this entertainment available to any child.
Reviews
Since the appearance of the railway in the capital of Ukraine, she never knew the lack of passengers. The reviews of those who have already visited Syretsky Park are more than positive. Passengers literally like everything! And this is not surprising, since all conditions have been created on Kiev Railways to make it pleasant for children to spend weekends there. In addition, visitors to Syretsky Park like the well-groomed territory, the presence of a cozy cafe and the ability to calmly walk with the kids along the shady alleys.
Now you know where the children's railway is located in Kiev, therefore, once in the capital of Ukraine, you can entertain your child in retro style. As for the residents of the city, they should think about whether they should enroll their son or daughter in the School of Young Railway Workers, where they will be able to play with the basics in an interesting way that will not lose their relevance for decades to come.