Narrow-gauge railways in Uzbekistan

Currently, there are no operational narrow-gauge railways in Uzbekistan. The last one, Children’s railway in Tashkent, was closed in 2017.

Children’s railway in Tashkent – the idea of ​​building a children’s railway in Baku emerged in August 1936 and it was approved. The first stage of the railway line was completed in 1940. S-shaped line was located on the shore of Komsomolskoye Lake in the central park and was 1070 meters long. There were 2 stations – Solnechnaya and Zaozernay. The railway was put into operation in 5 August 1940.

The line was extended in 1955. The new section of the railway line led across a newly constructed bridge over the river in the park. Total length of the line was 1700 meters and did not change anymore.

Old passenger cars were replaced by Polish-Built PAFAWAG carriages in 1960. These cars operated to 1984 when were replaced by PV51 cars.

In 1988, the Tashkent Children’s Railway received two new diesel locomotives TU7A-3045 and TU7A-3048, and then the road’s rolling stock fleet consisted of 4 diesel locomotives.

At the beginning of September 2017, the closure of the children’s railway was announced although the children’s railway was popular among locals and tourists. September 18, 2017, was the last day of train operation. Shortly after rolling stock was moved to Railway Museum in Tashkent and the tracks were dismantled.

Children’s railway in Bekabad – there is a train-monument in Yoslik park. Probably the train was transferred from children’s railway in Tashkent.

There were two children’s railways in Kokand. Old children’s railway in Kokand was opened in 1958 but was badly damaged during military operation in 1989 and was never rebuilt. The new children’s railway in Kokand was completed in 2008 on the southern outskirts of the city. The 1.5 km long railway line was never opened and soon was dismantled.

Children’s railway in Jizzakh was opened in 1976 and closed in early nineties. Abandoned railways was plundered and devastaded. The two kilometers long railway was reopened in 2004 as an attraction served by adults. Trains ran from March to last weekend of September. There were plans to renovation of the railway in 2006 but the plans were not implemented. Probably closed in 2007.

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Children’s Railway in Tashkent (Source: Screenshot from YouTube)