European Railroad Discussion > Helsinki, Suomi (Finland), 8/8/04, Part 1

I arrived from Washington-Dulles by way of United and Lufthansa and took the Finnair bus (€5) to Central Station.
1. Helsinki Central Station was designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1912 when Finland was a Grand Dutchy of Russia, but construction was paused during World War I when the unfinished building was used as a Russian military hospital .  It was not opened until 1919 after Finland had gained its independence in 1917.  The third reference, below, has much more detail about the station.
2. This is VR Sr1 Class #3111.
3. 110 Sr1 Class units (#3001 - #3110) were built between 1973 and 1985 by the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant in Russia.  By 1993 one had been wrecked, so #3111 was built by VR in the shops at Hyvinkää using parts from the wrecked unit.  #3112 was also built in Hyvinkää in 1995 after another unit was wrecked.  All Sr1 units are expected to be replaced by the end of this year by 80 Siemens Vectron units, Class Sr3, #3301 - #3380.
 
Details of all VR locomotives (steam, electric, diesel, EMUs and DMUs) are available at the second reference below.

Gerry

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Central Station is stub-ended, and the RoW extends generally north for about two miles to Pasila Station. Parallel to the RoW is a trail.  I took a long walk on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.
4. A train of Class Sm2 + Sm1 EMU pairs (power cars + trailers) arrived.
5. A Class Sm3, Pendolino, arrived.
6. A Class Sm2 EMU pair (no side ribs and curved windshields) arrived.

Gerry

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7. A train led by Sr2 #3205 arrived.  I think all of these non-airconditioned coaches have been retired.
8. A Class Sm1 EMU pair (ribbed sides and flat windshields) arrived.
9. An IC2 (Intercity 2) train led by Sr2 #3222 arrived, possibly from Turku.

Gerry

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10. Train #P32, the Tolstoy from Saint Petersburg and Moscow, led by Sr1 #3084 departed Pasila Station.  There are no trains from/to Saint Petersburg and Moscow now.
South of Pasila Station and west of the RoW was a small yard full of retired stuff.
11. Class Tk3 2-8-0 #1163 is now preserved in Pasila.  161 Tk3, locomotives, nicknamed Little Jumbo, were built between 1927 and 1953, and 38 are preserved.
12. Wood 2-axle boxcar #031104-3

Gerry

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13. Short 2-axle coach
14. Wood 4-axle coach
15. Two 2-axle cabooses
 
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Finnish_locomotives
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Central_Station
 
Gerry

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Nice set Gerry

What he said.