Currently, there are no operational narrow-gauge railways in Azerbaijan. There was an interesting children’s railway in Baku and less-known children’s railway in Nakhichevan.
Children’s railway in Baku – the idea of building a children’s railway in Baku emerged in 1945. Already the following year, the plan to construction of the railway was approved, and it was built by pupils and students from Baku in a voluntary effort from March 14 to May 1, 1947. The plans envisaged 4 km long route, but only 1.5 km of the tracks was constructed.
The opening of the Baku Children’s Railway took place on 10 August 1947. The first manager of the Baku Children’s Railway was M. Achundov. The Zoopark station had three tracks so that the locomotive could be moved to the other end of the train. The railway station Bagar had a triangle for turning the trains, which was later dismantled.
In the 1980s, there were plans to extend the Baku children’s railway to Dzerzhinsky Park, but locomotives were not able to climb the park hill and the plans were abandoned
During the early 1990s, the children’s railway lost importance. There was a lack of children willing to operate the trains, locomotives began to break down due to lack of maintenance and repairs, and the tracks were in poor condition.
In 2002, a glimmer of hope appeared – the authorities invested money for renovation of the railway. The tracks, stations, wagons, and locomotives were renovated. The same year, the railway was reopened after modernization. Since 2004, the railway has been named Azərbaycan Dövlət Uşaq Dəmir Yolu.
The railway operated until 2009. It was shut down and dismantled because modern buildings were planned to be built on the location of the railway. There were plans to relocate the railway but in 2012 children’s railway in Baku was eventually closed. Total length of the route was 1,57 km, 750 mm gauge.
Children’s railway in Nakhchivan – there is no detailed information about this railway. The railway opened in 1978 was 700 m long. It was build with a track gauge of 750 mm. Rolling stock fleet consisted TU-7 and TU-2 diesel locomotives and three passenger carriages manufactured by Polish PAFAWAG. The locomotives and carriages were transferred from children’s railway in Baku. The railway was closed in 2000.
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