Soviet infrastructure in Central Asia
Much of the influence of the Soviet Union can be seen in the infrastructure of Central Asia. Central Asia is a nexus of said infrastructure for transportation, goods delivery and energy distribution. Much of the industrial infrastructure had greatly declined in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union, especially in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The roads, railroads and energy lines are thus oriented towards the Russian Federation and away from other regional neighbors, such as China, Afghanistan or Iran.
Soviet steam locomotive Tashkent
Diesel-locomotive shunter TEM-7
Bishkek rail overpass
Taldyk pass (3600 m)
Railway system of the Soviet Union
Soviet Railways was the state owned national railway system of the Soviet Union, headquartered in Moscow. The railway started operations in December 1922, shortly after the formation of the Soviet Union. Soviet Railways greatly upgraded and expanded the Russian Imperial Railways to meet the demands of the new country. It operated until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
Steam locomotives, such as the P36, were the quintessential symbol of the Soviet Railways.