How did Kim Jong Un get to Russia?

[Ian Rathbone]

Kim travelled to Russia from N. Korea in his armoured train but the gauge in Russia is different from that of China & N. Korea. So how did the train get there?

 

Ian R

[Dave John]

Have a look at google earth.

 

Russia and N.Korea share a border , the Tumen river. There is a rail bridge called the Korea - Russia friendship bridge across it, with railyards both sides.  So the gauge must be the same both sides . Not somewhere welcoming to trainspotters at a guess. 

 

Some bits of N Korea have a dual gauge to suit that link , I'd guess that was the way it went. 

 

 

[jjb1970]

I think DPRK-Russia rail traffic does a gauge change at the frontier. Inconvenient and a barrier to connectivity but it isn't unique to that border.

[Edwin_m]

You can select track gauge on the link below - it claims to be a beta version but seemed pretty good when I looked at Ukraine.  You may wish to click this only if you have several hours to spare!

 

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/

 

I'd guess the train in question permits bogies to be swapped.  

[Michael Hodgson]

1 hour ago, Edwin_m said:

I'd guess the train in question permits bogies to be swapped.  

I think it's probably more important that the armed guards permit the bogies to be swapped!

[DavidB-AU]

The Friendship Bridge is dual gauge. Bogie exchange is done at Tumangang on the DPRK side so through traffic travels on the Russian gauge. The same is done for through traffic between Russia and China, Ukraine and Poland, etc.

 

Interestingly, Kim's armoured train is so heavy it can only travel at 50 km/h (31mph).

[Enterprisingwestern]

2 hours ago, DavidB-AU said:

Interestingly, Kim's armoured train is so heavy it can only travel at 50 km/h (31mph).

 

I wonder what he's so scared of?, other than everything from his own shadow upwards!

 

Mike.

[Legend]

Cheapday Return?

[pete_mcfarlane]

4 hours ago, DavidB-AU said:

Interestingly, Kim is so heavy that his train can only travel at 50 km/h (31mph).

There, I fixed it for you......

[DavidB-AU]

3 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

I wonder what he's so scared of?, other than everything from his own shadow upwards!

 

Some years ago a trainload of chemicals and most of the station next to it went boom a few hours after his daddy's train had stopped there. Most likely an accident but the Kims have been paranoid about assassination for decades.

[snitchthebudgie]

7 hours ago, Legend said:

Cheapday Return?

 

At least he can be sure that the drivers won't be on strike....