Day 13 - 3/8/11 - Wednesday

The earliest of early starts thus far, with the alarm advising us that it was no longer time to sleep at 5.45. After a quick shower I endeavoured to get Cinthia up, and although her stomach felt better she now had a terrible migraine, and didn't look like making the trip. After convincing her that she would feel better with some Siberian sun and fresh air, we managed to get ready and depart.

At the station we met our new guide for the day, a bubbly Ukranian girl called Tania. We boarded the train and off we went, toward the southern end of lake Baikal, where the tourist railway (and former part of the Trans Siberian main line) called Circum Baikal turnout was located.

The former 2 track railway, closely hugging the south west coast of the lake, is now a single track tourist railway that operates once in each direction per week. If today was any indication, it certainly is still popular, with 5 full carriages.

This section of track was the most expensive part of the Trans Siberian entire route, and was decommissioned when a preferred route was identified. The route had suffered a temporary closure with the rising of the lake one year. The more modern trains were also able to go up a slightly higher gradient, and hence, a different route was instituted.

Prior to this Russia had attempted to lay track accross the frozen lake Baikal in 1907, in order to quickly transfer troops to a war with Japan. Whilst Russians are able to drive across the lake in winter due to its frozen 1.5 metres, the first train operated across the lake fell through the ice, resulting in death for the soldiers aboard, who quickly froze in the icy cold waters.

The trip itself was a lovely day out, nice weather, beautiful scenery around the lake, and we indulged in a home cooked Russian meal.... with complimentary bottle of home made vodka. Yes, Cinthia and I have tried it, it is good stuff (given I don't normally drink Vodka) and it doesn't take long to warm you up inside. Giddyup!

The railway track section had numerous bridges, with Russians hiring Italians to help construct the numerous arch bridges and tunnels. In addition, numerous reinforcement walls were needed to stop potential rock falls onto the tracks, and/ or trains.

Our guide Tania.