Another Russian train to model?

[Marquette]

[AstroGoat760]

I WANT ONE!

[ConducTTor]

Holy crap that's cool
Any idea what type of rocket that is?
Could you imagine a Saturn 5 on a train lol?

[Bigelov]

Funny you should mention that. I just went back into my archive and it was more than three years I started looking at Russian rocketry rolling stock...

That is at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Khazakhstan which is still the main Russian launch site. It is a HUGE complex with rail from the nearest town to the far edge of at least 70km (around 45miles) long!

The rocket is a Soyuz, which in various forms has been in service since 1966. It is over 51metres long (about 170ft), which is about 430mm/17in long in TT. The loco's are TEM2/TEM2UM, which UMF in Poland make a kit for. The consist is an air conditioning car, flat car (Peresvet make them), a depressed centre flat with ducting into the upper section and the rocket transport and raising unit, another flat (it does overhang a fair way...). Total length of the train including the two locos is about 1100mm/43in long. There is a loco at each end to make the journey from the assembly building to the launch pad and is guarded along the way.

There are all sorts of other special cars for carrying rocket parts and others used around Baikonur.

Expedition 61 Preflight (NHQ201909230018) by NASA HQ PHOTO, on Flickr

I think they use the site for astronauts heading to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts are frequents users, along with others of various nations. There are a lot of photos on the "NASA HQ" Flickr site showing all sorts of rail and rocket action, as well as other non-rail spacey stuff.

[Marquette]

Bigelov - great info, thanks!

This really would make for an eyecatching model that would turn heads at shows!

[Arseny]

BTW, Soyuz model is availavle in 1:144

[dileTTante]

Maybe you are all too young to know. The Russians stole the idea from the Americans! Here is irrefutable evidence! (American Flyer S scale)
- Terry C

[ConducTTor]