|
Fortress Railways of the Baltic Shores by Mehis Helme Soft Cover
Fortress Railways of the Baltic Shores
by Mehis Helme
Approx 9.5 X 6.5 inches
80 pages Illustrated throughout. 75 black and white photos, 14 maps, 18 scale drawings of locomotives.
Copyright 1994
Photos of US Built Locos Page 30, 31, 44, 55, 56, 58.
Contents
Introduction5
1 The "Peter the Great Naval Fortress"7
2 The Forward Position and its Railway Network9
3 Strategic Islands and their Railways11
4 The Tallinn Naval Fortress - Coastal Defences13
5 The Tallinn Naval Fortress - Land Defences17
6 Railways of the Tallinn Naval Fortress23
7 Locomotives and Rolling Stock29
8 The Railways under German Occupation (1918-1919)35
9 War of Independence - and after39
10 Nationalisation of the Narrow Gauge Railways47
11 Later History of the Fortress Locomotives55
12 The Railways under German Occupation (1941-44)59
13 The Railways under Soviet Control61
14 Relics of the Naval Fortress Railways69
Bibliography71
Appendix 1 Orenstein and Koppel locomotives delivered
to the Fortress Railways71
Appendix 2 French-built Russian field railway M series locomotives72
Appendix 3 Russian 86 series field railway steam locomotives73
Appendix 4 German "Feldbahn" locomotives in Estonia73
Table of Locomotive Dimensions74
The remarkable story of Estonia's Fortress Railways
In the wake of Russia's defeat by Japan in 1905, massive fortifaction works were put in hand along the Estonian coast and on the offsore approaches to St Petersburg.
INTRODUCTION
The republic of Estonia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic sea. It is the northernmost of a group of countries known as the Baltic States, the others being Latvia and Lithuania. Estonia has been ruled at various times by Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Russia, whose first conquest of the country was in 1710. Industrialisation began in the 19th Century and soon Estonia was one of the most industrialised areas in the Russian Empire, including shipbuilding, metal and machinery industries. As the Century progressed, increasing prosperity fuelled a growing nationalism, but Czarist control ensured that Russia kept a firm grip on Estonia's affairs, as it occupied a pivotal strategic position protecting Russia's Baltic shores.
It was in the wake of the Russian defeat at the hands of the Japanese in 1905 that massive fortification works were put in hand along the Estonian coast and on the offshore approaches to St Petersburg, Russia's principal naval base, stimulating the development of a network of narrow gauge railways which is described in detail in the following pages.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
Shipping charges
US Shipments: When you add multiple items to your cart, the reduced shipping charges will automatically be calculated. For direct postage rates to other countries, send me an email. Shipping varies by weight.
Terms and conditions
All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us before making a return. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding or buying.
Thanks for looking at our items.
| 
