Readers have been sharing stories and pictures from journeys across continents on one of the most iconic railways in the world. The Trans-Siberian railway spans almost 6,000 miles from Moscow to Vladivostock in the east, but many of you have also told tales of the Trans-Mongolian route through to China.
From dining cars to cosy cabins to stunning views across the steppe out of the windows, here are some of the contributions we’ve received so far.
First, in the compartment
Snacks and beer on the Trans-Siberian
My best friend and I backpacked through Russia in 2003 - this was our cabin on the Trans-Siberian. In this pic I'm enjoying a bottle of Baltika beer and a packet of choco-pie (a kind of Russian variant on the Tunnock's tea-cake.)
Every day the train would stop at a bunch of small towns, and all the traders would jump off to sell the crowds of locals whatever goods they were trying to offload before the train got moving again. One woman hopefully tried to sell a set of crystal chandeliers at every station, but we never saw her get any interest.
New friends included ...
Home sweet home with my travelling buddy Jimmy
I met Jimmy on the Trans-Siberian in 2014. I'd stayed over in Mongolia for a couple of weeks whilst heading towards Moscow and then did the rest of the trip on the same train. We spent five days drinking, talking and getting shouted at by the staff! We parted ways in Moscow but I'll never forget our little cabin and brilliant time we had.
Locals among them
Soldier
This young soldier and his girlfriend (or sister?) spoke very little English. They were traveling from st Petersburg to Vladivostok, a trip they took regularly because it was cheaper and safer than by plane. They were in the same room as me, and refused my offer of vodka.
But surely you’d be happier pointing the camera out of the window?
A long ride and never changing view
I walked the 14 carriages down the train to take a photo from the end window everyday, and everyday there was exactly the same view...
The views are expansive ... as were the trains
Trans-Mongolian travelling through China
the longest train we'd ever seen, and we were on it!
Keep looking, surely there’ll be something to look at soon ...
Mongolian Steppe
This was taken on a very bumpy bus ride through Terelj National Park, Mongolia during a 3 week Trans Siberian Railway trip in June, 2013. An unforgettable trip!
We hope this window was closed ... and that you tried the smoked omul they might be catching
Ice fishing on Lake Baikal
These guys were fishing on Lake Baikal, smoking the fish and selling them to people on the train. It was January and so cold it was painful to breath the air.
That’s better – much more clement weather in which to disembark for a closer look
Yurt in the Gobi Desert
As part of a Trans-Siberian trip in 2008, we made a stop off in the Gobi desert and stayed with local people for three nights. An unforgettable experience.
There were some interesting souvenirs to be had ...
Going shopping
Plenty of toys on sale (including a whole rocking horse) to keep everyone occupied on the long train ride
And some of that fish on sale ...
Late night shop
A last ditch attempt to stock up on snacks before the morning from all the vendors.
... as well as other passengers’ luggage to contend with ...
Mannequin
My girlfriend and I entered our cabin in Moscow only to find it stuffed with clothes and mannequin legs in the overhead luggage space. This was to be our travelling companion for four days on the journey to Ulaanbaatar and it was dressed in the latest Moscow fashions and dangled out of the train window as we approached provincial towns. Several hundred people would sometimes be waiting to haggle with the group of Mongolian traders and their families who travelled back and forth to Moscow.
When you reached the end of the road, however, the place often seemed deserted
Finally, the trains themselves
Train
A big Russian train 2007
