Frühtau's photostream  

With a special train the russian steam locomotive class SU 4371 is on the way to the border station Sighetu (Romania - Ukraine). A very rare chance. The track on the romanian side stretches a few kilometres from the ukrainian border up to the railway station in Sighetu on romanian side laid out in both rail gauges (standard and russian broadgauge). Also the signal system (partly german shemaphores) was constructed for both railwaylines. During the cold war such lines had also a strategic relevance.
Near Sighetu, Romania Okt 1999. (scanned slide)

The railwayline between Tongliao and Jining in the northern chinese province Nei Mongol was one of the last lines in the world wich used heavy 2-10-2 steam locomotives for all trains until the year 2005!
This mountinious view with a freight train wich produced also a mount of steam was taken in winter (Nov.1997).
(scanned slide)

This big town in north east of China (Prov. Heilongjiang) is well known for its Ice festival during the winter months. In that time the city is decorated with a big varity of ice skulptures made from iceblocks of the Songhua river wich cross the town. This tradion is nearly 150 years old and date back in the russian colonial time. Many artists from all over the world come to Harbin in wintertime to design ice skulptures for a exposition park and the streets.
Feb. 2002 (scanned slide)

In the eastern part of Turkey (Anatolia) some people still have a poor and hard life. The boom of the citys and western parts of turkey didnt reached this regions. In 1939 and 1992 also heavy earthquakes damaged the city of Erzincan several times. A poor street shoe polisher is doing his work in the streets of Erzincan.
Sept. 1998 (scanned slide)

The oil fired steam locomotive 56 009 pulled a freight train through the pass of the Traurus mountains of south west turkey. Between Ulukisla and Pozanti (Turkey).
Okt. 1997 (scanned slide)