European Railroad Discussion > Turku, Finland, 4/17 & 18/04

In February 2004 I started a consulting job here.  I didn’t get back to it until mid-April, but I stayed on it another 13 months.  So, there will be more pictures from Finland.  To give a little context to the rail scene here: at this time all commercial rail services were provided by VR (formerly Valtion Rautatiet, State Railway).  See the first reference, below, for more details.  The second reference has information on all DMUs, EMUs, and locomotives (steam, electric and diesel) used in Finland.
4/17/04
1. This is an ice cream parlor on the town square.  The hotel I stayed in is at right.  On the ground floor of the hotel out of view to the right was a McDonalds (I never went in).
4/18/04
2. This was/is the station with VR flags flying.
3. The Santa Fe even showed up inside the station.

Gerry

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4. VR had its version of the Auto Train; a few auto transport cars tacked onto the rear of certain overnight passenger trains.
5 & 6. VR Class Dv16 #2031, built by Lokomo in Tampere in 1962, retired by 2008, was a diesel hydraulic unit used mostly in switching service.

Gerry

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7. An e/b train led by Class Sr2 #3217 on Track #5 and an e/b train led by Sr2 #3216 on Track #7 were about to depart for Helsinki and Tampere, respectively.
8 & 9. Class Sr1 #3031 backed to its train on Track #6.

Gerry

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10. Two Silja (Seal) Line "Happy Train" cars were on the train on Track #6.  Silja operated large ferries on the Baltic Sea, and one specific route was Stockholm – Turku.  I’ve never been in a “Happy Car,” so I’m not sure what’s inside.
11. This is a “Lasten Vaunu” (children’s car).  I’ve not been in one of these either.
12. There’s a pedestrian bridge over the VR facilities between the station and a residential area. Dv16s #2022 and #2030 were tied down near the turntable and roundhouse.

Gerry

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13 – 15. The train led by #3031 departed.  I’m not sure where it went.  It may have been an extra train for a tour group that arrived on a Silja Line ferry.

Gerry

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At this time, 26 passenger trains departed Turku daily between 05:46 and 21:05, 17 east to Helsinki and 9 northeast to Tampere, some continuing further north or east.
 
16. A train led by Sr2 #3219 was about to depart for Helsinki.
17. A train led by Sr2 #3229 arrived.
18. An hour later the train led by Sr2 #3229 departed for Helsinki.
 
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Finnish_locomotives
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Class_Sr1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Class_Sr2
 
Gerry

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Finland is one of my favorite countries! It's safe, friendly and the trains are clean and fast. Russian passenger trains serve Helsinki, but don't have a look  around because Russians, in general, see the  curious as possible security risks! Don't even smile at a Russian official!

Very nice set Gerry, look forward to seeing more.

RRBMail Wrote:
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> Russian passenger trains serve Helsinki, but don't
> have a look  around because Russians, in general,
> see the  curious as possible security risks!
> Don't even smile at a Russian official!

Not anymore, all cross border services to St Petersburg and Moscow ceased in 2022 on the invasion of Ukraine, since when Finland has further distanced itself from Russia by joining Nato.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/25 15:38 by 86235.

> Not anymore, all cross border services to St
> Petersburg and Moscow ceased in 2022 on the
> invasion of Ukraine, since when Finland has
> further distanced itself from Russia by joining
> Nato.

Thanks for the update...sad.