Railway Symphony. §0: Introduction
Last year I took my passport with a Canadian visa and a compact camera and boarded a train from Moscow to Minsk. It was the beginning of the Journey I called the Northern Railway Circumnavigation. In 54 days I circumnavigated the planet by multiple European railways and by two longest railways of each kind, the longest railway in the West, the Canadian Pacific, and the longest railway in the East and in the whole world, the Great Trans-Siberian Railway. I’m playing this world and this journey was one of my games. I was telling the story of the voyage on the go on my web page vokabre.com. This story, in Russian, is still there. This journey ended one and a half years ago, but while I was leaving Moscow I promised myself to do one more thing, to make a Great Railway Symphony out of what I happened to see, to play this world one more time with dip pen and brushes on paper. It took me one and a half years to do such thing. I asked multiple parties, railways and railway magazines will they be interested in exhibiting any of those sketches. The answer was either dishonest silence or honest decline.
He world has spun. There’s war around. The next day I can be forced into military, I can be thrown into prison for political activism, or get shot at some country border, but I won’t stop playing.
I’m presenting to you, the Great Railway Symphony of the Northern Railway Circumnavigation by Michael Bazel Vokabre.
Railway Symphony. §1: Moscow, Zero kilometer (the beginning)
Moscow, Russia (0 km. of the voyage)
Zero kilometer of Russian roads.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
A small metal plaque near the Red Square. I chose it to be a symbolic place to start and potentially finish my voyage. Only when I left I remembered that there’s a belief that if you drop a coin while not looking at it and it lands at the central spot, it could bring you good luck.
Railway Symphony. §2: Moscow, First train
Moscow, Russia (1 km. of the voyage)
Belorussky Rail Terminal, 195BA Belarus Railways train from Moscow to Brest.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Belorussky Rail Terminal is the western window to the city. Most trains to Western Europe leave from there, as well as all trains to Belarus, which is what gave the terminal its name. Belarus Railway trains look differently from Russian ones, they’re always blue.
Railway Symphony. §4: Minsk, Moscow-Minsk-Berlin-Paris
Minsk, Belarus (750 km. of the voyage)
Minsk train station, 023JiA train “Moscow-Berlin-Paris” of Russian Railways from Moscow.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Moscow-Berlin-Paris is the longest direct train in all Europe.
Railway Symphony. §5: Frankfurt am Main, Innenstadt
Frankfurt am Main, Germany (2467 km. of the voyage)
Innenstadt district, the Eurotower and the Euro statue.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §6: Frankfurt am Main, Intercity Express
Frankfurt am Main, Germany (2467 km. of the voyage)
Frankfurt am Main central station (Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof), DB|SNCF ICE9554 from Frankfurt to Paris.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, Copic marker, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §7: Paris, Gare de l'Est
Paris, France (2981 km. of the voyage)
Gare de l’Est. Paris East station.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
This station is famous for being the terminus of the Orient Express, Paris to Istanbul train.
Railway Symphony. §9: Paris, Trocadero
Paris, France (2981 km. of the voyage)
Trocadero metro station of the 9th line of the Paris Metro.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, Copic marker, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §11: Paris, Airfield
Paris, France (2981 km. of the voyage)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Terminal 3. Airbus A330-342. Air Transat flight TS-711 from Paris to Montreal.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §12: Montreal, Place d'Armes
Montreal, Quebec, Canada (8504 km. of the voyage)
Place d’Armes. From left to right: Maisonneuve Monument (in memory of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, founder of Montreal), New York Life Insurance Building, Aldred Building.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §14: Montreal, Coffee
Montreal, Quebec, Canada (8504 km. of the voyage)
Montreal Central Station, VIA Rail train 657 Montreal for Ottawa.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §15: Ottawa, Centennial Flame
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (8695 km. of the voyage)
The Parliament of Canada on Parliament Hill, the Centennial Flame and two strangers.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §16: Ottawa, Tickets and trains
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (8695 km. of the voyage)
Ottawa train station.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §17: Toronto, City
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (9141 km. of the voyage)
City skyline with the CN tower.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §18: Toronto, Queen
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (9141 km. of the voyage)
Queen Street, near the crossroad between Queen and Bathurst.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §19: Toronto, Fort York
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (9141 km. of the voyage)
Fort York. Established in 1793. The first major stronghold in today Toronto area.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §20: Toronto, Entrance to trains
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (9141 km. of the voyage)
Toronto Union Station. On the way to number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto for Vancouver.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §21: Toronto, The Canadian
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (9141 km. of the voyage)
Toronto Union Station.
VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Toronto to Winnipeg).
(Тушь, акварель, бумага, перо и кисти)
Railway Symphony. §22: Between Toronto and Winnipeg. Telegraph
Somewhere in Canada between Toronto and Winnipeg (9141-11084 km. of the voyage).
Onboard the VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Toronto to Winnipeg).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §23: Between Toronto and Winnipeg, Hornepayne
Hornepayne, Ontario, Canada (9836 km. of the voyage)
Hornepayne Station. VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Toronto to Winnipeg).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
A town of the railway.
Railway Symphony. §24: Between Toronto and Winnipeg, Neige au Canada
Somewhere in Canada between Toronto and Winnipeg (9141-11084 km. of the voyage)
Onboard the VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Toronto to Winnipeg). “Park car” (The last car of the train, a salon type car with an observation deck).
Melanie Brulée, Dylan Groulx and passengers.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §25: Winnipeg, Guesthouse
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (11084 km. of the voyage)
Winnipeg International Guesthouse.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §26: Winnipeg, Portage and Main
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (11084 km. of the voyage)
Crossroad between Portage and Main streets.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
This place is considered to be the most windiest place in all Canada.
Railway Symphony. §27: Between Winnipeg and Saskatoon, Economy car
Somewhere in Canada between Winnipeg and Saskatoon (11084-11843 km. of the voyage)
Onboard the VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Winnipeg to Saskatoon). Economy class car.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §29: Saskatoon, City of bridges
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (11843 km. of the voyage)
Saskatoon (city of bridges) and South Saskatchewan River.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §31: Saskatoon, Boomtown
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (11843 km. of the voyage)
“Boomtown” 1910 town at the Western Development Museum of Saskatoon.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §33: Between Saskatoon and Jasper, Rockies
In Canada between Saskatoon and Jasper (11843-12741 km. of the voyage)
Onboard the VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Saskatoon to Jasper).
Rocky Mountains.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §34: Jasper, Jasper station arrival
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
Jasper station at Jasper town. Arrival of “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver train.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §35: Jasper, Jasper station departure
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
“The Canadian” Toronto – Vancouver train departing from Jasper station at Jasper town.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §36: Jasper, Suomi by the Athabasca River
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
Suomi (vokabre.com/suomi) by the Athabasca River.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §37: Jasper, Stranger beside a road
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §38: Jasper, Travellers in the canyon of Maligne Lake
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
Canyon of Maligne Lake. Sebastian, Jessica and Jessica.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §40: Jasper, Post office
Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada (12741 km. of the voyage)
Post office.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
1939 George VI Rex
Railway Symphony. §41: Between Jasper and Vancouver, Ahead is British Columbia
Somewhere in Canada between Jasper and Vancouver (12741-13607 km. of the voyage)
Onboard the VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Jasper to Vancouver).
View from the scenic dome of a Skyline car.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, bamboo stick and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §42: Vancouver, Pacific end of the line
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Pacific Central Station of Vancouver.
On the right is VIA Rail number 1 train “The Canadian” Toronto — Vancouver (from Jasper to Vancouver) that have just arrived to the city.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §43: Vancouver, Pacific Central Station
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Pacific Central Station of Vancouver.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §44: Vancouver, Gastown
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Rainy day in Gastown.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §46: Vancouver, Siwash Rock
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Stanley Park, Siwash Rock and an unknown lady.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, bamboo stick and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §47: Vancouver, Granville Island
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Ron Basford Park of Granville Island.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §48: Vancouver, Harbour Water Airport
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Downtown Vancouver, Vancouver Harbour Water Airport.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §49: Vancouver, Inukshuk
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
English Bay Inukshuk.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, bamboo stick and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §50: Vancouver, Roedde House
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Roedde House Museum.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §51: Vancouver, Sounds of fire over the flags
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Near Vancouver Academy of Music.
Late evening.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §64: Wolfie (Bleu azur)
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
White Rock Beach, Semiahmoo Bay of the Boundary Bay.
Wolfie.
(Ink, Copic ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §70: Wolfie (Bleu profond)
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
White Rock Beach, Semiahmoo Bay of the Boundary Bay.
Wolfie.
(Ink, Copic ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §72: Vancouver, Boarding
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (13607 km. of the voyage)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Terminal M, Gate 55.
Boeing 777-300. Air Transat flight AC-7 from Vancouver to Hong Kong.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §73: Hong Kong, Chungking Mansions (香港、重慶大廈)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Kowloon (九龍), Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀), Chungking Mansions (重慶大廈).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §74: Hong Kong, Rubber Duck (巨鴨)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Kowloon (九龍), Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀), Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港).
Rubber Duck (巨鴨).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §75: Hong Kong, Star Ferry (天星小輪)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港).
Star Ferry (天星小輪) No.A4241 IMO.8891156 “Silver Star” (銀星號) built in 1965.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §76: Hong Kong, Kowloon (九龍)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Kowloon (九龍).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §77: Hong Kong, Duk Ling (鴨靈號)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港), the sails of Duk Ling (鴨靈號) junk ship, view from the ship.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §78: Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港)
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港), Duk Ling (鴨靈號) junk ship departing from a pier on Hong Kong Island.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §79: Hong Kong, International Airport (香港國際機場), Paperwork
Hong Kong (香港) (24000 km. of the voyage)
Hong Kong International Airport (香港國際機場), Terminal 2.
Vladivostok Avia – Aeroflot flight XF4675 SU4675 from Hong Kong to Vladivostok.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §80: Vladivostok, Train Station Square
Vladivostok, Russia (26884 km. of the voyage)
Vladivostok Train Station.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §81: Vladivostok, 9288 km. of the Great Siberian Railway
Vladivostok, Russia (26884 km. of the voyage)
Vladivostok Train Station. The 9288 km. (end) point of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
On the right there’s the 904/4 Vladivostok—Moscow postal train, on the left is the 005E/006E “Ocean” Vladivostok—Khabarovsk train. In between there’s Ea3306 steam engine decorated for the 9th of May celebrations.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §82: Vladivostok, Warship
Vladivostok, Russia (26884 km. of the voyage)
Vladivostok port, a warship.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §83: Vladivostok, 133EG train
Vladivostok, Russia (26884 km. of the voyage)
Vladivostok Train station, Russian Railways train 133EG from Vladivostok to Ulyanovsk (for Khabarovsk).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §84: Khabarovsk, Train Station Square
Khabarovsk, Russia (27649 km. of the voyage)
Train Station square.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §85: Khabarovsk, Amur
Khabarovsk, Russia (27649 km. of the voyage)
Amur river.
(Ink, watercolour, cichoreum, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §86: Trans-Siberian, Rails on fire
Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway
as seen from a Russian Railways train 007A Vladivostok—Novosibirsk
on the way from Khabarovsk to Slyudyanka (27649-30861 km. of the voyage).
(Ink, watercolour, paper, bamboo stick and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §87: Trans-Siberian, Amazar
Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway, Amazar (29168 kilometers of the voyage)
Russian Railways train 007A Vladivostok-Novosibirsk
from Khabarovsk to Slyudyanka (27649-30861 km. of the voyage).
Amazar station, where the cars are being filled with water.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §88: Trans-Siberian, Fishermen
Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway
View from a Russian Railways train 007A Vladivostok—Novosibirsk;
from Khabarovsk to Slyudyanka (27649-30861 km. of the voyage).
(Ink, watercolour, cichoreum, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §89: Trans-Siberian, A village without a station
Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway
View from a Russian Railways train 007A Vladivostok—Novosibirsk;
from Khabarovsk to Slyudyanka (27649-30861 km. of the voyage).
(Ink, watercolour, cichoreum, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §90: Slyudyanka, Baikal
Slyudyanka, Russia (30861 km. of the voyage)
Lake Baikal.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §91: Slyudyanka, Paris Commune Street
Slyudyanka, Russia (30861 km. of the voyage)
Paris Commune Street. View towards Baikal.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §92: Slyudyanka, Slyudyanka train station
Slyudyanka, Russia (30861 km. of the voyage)
Slyudyanka train station. The station is fully decorated with white marble.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §94: Irkutsk, The City
Irkutsk, Russia (30987 km. of the voyage)
Stepana Razina Street.
(Ink, watercolour, cichoreum paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §95: Trans-Siberian, Platzkart
Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway
Russian Railways train 349ChB Chita—Moscow
from Irkutsk to Novosibirsk (30987-32836 km. of the voyage).
“Platzkart” 3rd class car.
(Ink, watercolour, cichoreum, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §96: Novosibirsk, Square and Theatre.
Novosibirsk, Russia (32836 km. of the voyage)
Lenin Square, the “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” statue, and Opera and Ballet Theatre.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §98: Novosibirsk, Lenin Square Station
Novosibirsk, Russia (32836 km. of the voyage)
Lenin Square Metro Station.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §99: Novosibirsk, Conductor lady
Novosibirsk, Russia (32836 km. of the voyage)
Novosibirsk train station.
Conductor lady.
Russian Railways train 087NA “Irtysh” Novosibirsk—Omsk (32836-33467 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §100: Omsk, Tramways
Omsk, Russia (33467 km. of the voyage)
Tramways on Serov street near Omsk train station.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §101: Omsk, Postamt
Omsk, Russia (33467 km. of the voyage)
International street, Central post office and an old fire tower.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §102: Omsk, 025NC train
Omsk, Russia (33467 km. of the voyage)
Omsk train station.
Russian Railways train 025NC “Sibiryak” Omsk for Perm (33467-34738 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, bamboo stick, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §103: Perm, The "П"
Perm, Russia (34738 km. of the voyage)
Near Gaidar Square.
“П” is the recently invented symbol of Perm, based on a first letter (П) of the city name (Пермь) written in Russian
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §104: Perm, Vladivostok—Moscow
Perm, Russia (34738 km. of the voyage)
Perm II station.
Russian Railways train 239EA Vladivostok—Moscow from Perm to Moscow (34738-36172 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §105: Trans-Siberian, Vyatka
Kirov, Russia (35216 km. of the voyage)
Russian Railways train 239EA Vladivostok—Moscow from Perm to Moscow (34738-36172 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §106: Moscow, Arrival
Moscow, Russia (36172 km. of the voyage)
Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal.
Russian Railways train 239EA Vladivostok—Moscow from Perm to Moscow (34738-36172 km. of the voyage)
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §107: Moscow, 0 km. of the Great Siberian Railway
Moscow, Russia (36172 km. of the voyage)
Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal. Zero kilometer of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §108: Moscow, Stone tenderness
Moscow, Russia (36172 km. of the voyage)
Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal. Statue of two.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §109: Moscow, Zero kilometer (the end)
Moscow, Russia (36172 km. of the voyage)
Zero kilometer of Russian roads.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen, Copic marker and brushes)
Railway Symphony. §110: Moscow, Zero kilometer (definitely the end)
Moscow, Russia (36172 km. of the voyage)
Zero kilometer of Russian roads.
(Ink, watercolour, paper, dip pen and brushes)
