Description of the attraction
The steam locomotive-monument Eu 708-64 is located at the Volkhovstroy-1 railway station, in the city of Volkhov, Leningrad Region. The station was opened at the beginning of the 20th century - in 1904, on the newly constructed line St. Petersburg - Vologda. Initially it was called Zvanka, and in 1934 it was renamed Volkhovstroy.
The Eu 708-64 steam locomotive belongs to the E. series locomotives. The axial formula of the locomotive is 0-5-0 (a locomotive with 5 moving axles in the 1st rigid frame). It was built in the USSR and operated here. The length of the locomotive is 11456 mm, the operating weight is 85.6 tons, the adhesion weight is the same, 2 cylinders, the design speed is 55 km / h. Has a Walshart steam distribution mechanism.
This locomotive was the first after breaking the blockade of Leningrad to deliver a train with ammunition and food to the Finland Station. It happened on February 7, 1943. The locomotive belonged to the locomotive depot in the city of Volkhovstroy. After that, the locomotive was transferred to the reserve of the Ministry of Railways (MPS) and was located at the Belgorod station of the Southern Railway. Thanks to the initiative of the Volkhovstroi veteran railway workers, after negotiations with the Ministry of Railways, it was decided to deliver the locomotive back to Volkhov to be installed as a monument.
At present, this steam locomotive is presented in the original as a monument to the exploits of the railway workers. It is located on the platform of the Volkhovsky railway station. In order to be able to lift the locomotive to the pedestal, a temporary railway line was built, because at that time there were no lifting structures capable of lifting such a heavy object.
On Victory Day 1980, a solemn ceremony was held to unveil the monument. The event was accompanied by a rally. The honor to open the memorial was given to people who worked at their posts during the Second World War, including the participants of the first flight from the mainland to Leningrad: M. S. Diaghilev, A. M. Alekseeva T. S. Ryazanov, as well as the former deputy head of the depot for repairs G. A. Afanasyev.
And today you can see memorable lines on the tender for the locomotive: "This steam locomotive Eu 708-64, assigned during the war to the depot of the city of Volkhov, on February 7, 1943 delivered to besieged Leningrad the first train with food and ammunition after breaking the blockade."
