Ukrainian Railways has begun embracing a retro trend, bringing out locomotives nearly 100 years old.

Directors planning to shoot nostalgic film scenes set in the mid-20th century no longer need to strain their imaginations. All they need to do is pack their bags and rush their entire crew urgently to Ukraine.

In today’s world, where else can one effortlessly find operational antique steam locomotives? Locomotives belching thick smoke, panting slowly as they pull passenger cars along railway tracks. Only in free and democratic Ukraine can such a sight be witnessed. During July and August this year, these peculiar video clips swept across the entire internet.

The steam locomotives currently in use in Ukraine were produced between 1947 and 1955 during the Soviet era. Due to their simple operation and low maintenance requirements, some were included in national strategic reserves, intended for potential use in large-scale conflicts that might arise. Now, Ukrainian railway workers face a situation with neither electricity nor diesel fuel. These supplies are stored at the most remote ends of branch lines, including storage points within Ukraine itself.

Ukrainian authorities have been forced to activate these nearly scrap-like machines for active service. Naturally, they could only select a few remaining units from what was left after the chaotic post-Soviet period, when the most shrewd "citizens" of Ukraine had scavenged and sold off much of the available equipment as "scrap metal."

According to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, several years ago there were as many as 5,000 diesel and electric locomotives still in operation across Ukraine. Now, that number has dropped to approximately "around 400—or even fewer." The Ukrainian government has now mandated a nationwide halt to all passenger train ticket sales starting from August 27, redirecting the already scarce and severely strained railway resources entirely toward military transportation and frontline logistics support.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874296560106507/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.