The In Siberia Podcast Episode 4

Please check out the In Siberia podcast, Episode 4: Czech Legions right here.

Nikolsk to Harbin, China 600 Miles

This line was built after the Japanese-Russian War. The country from Nikolsk to Chin Chow settlement was very flat and was at one time a great wheat country. Chin Chow is the boarder town of Siberia and Manchuria, China.

The 17th we got into the Manchurian mountains and had some large grades to make with two engines in the back and some times we had two pulling us. You can not realize what would have happened if our train would have broken apart as the train did not have any air brakes at all.
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The Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904 after years of conflict. Japan's ultimate victory in the war resulted in Japan becoming a power in Asia and led to the Russian Revolution of 1905 which was a precursor to the Russian Revolution a decade later that ultimately resulted in the formation of the Soviet Union. More basic info can be found here.

The photo comes from George's photo album and the caption identifies the area as The Chinese Wall, "Chin" Chow. The "Chinese Wall" is obviously the Great Wall of China. The identity of the man in the photo is a mystery to me.

Picture of the Show Troupe

This photo comes from George's personal album. The cation reads: "Capt. Niklas-1st Lieutenant Osbourne Show Troupe." As you can see they are standing in front of a Y.M.C.A.

Since we are currently following George on his side trek playing piano on tour through parts of Siberia and China with a show troupe I thought it would be appropriate to show a photograph of two of the members of the troupe.

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Impressions of Nikolsk and Harbin

Nikolsk

Pop. about 50,000 63 miles from Vlad.

This town is the junction and end of double track from Vlad. The main line runs to Harbin, the Amur line to Khabarovsk, 1175 miles away. This town has a large railroad yard and also a nice city. This place is where the Zcecks had a hard fight with the Bolsheviks, killing many. The country West of here is good country and is very level for about 60 miles. Toward Khab. it also is in good shape.

Harbin, China

Pop. 2000,000 483 miles to Vlad.

Railway center of Trans-Siberian and Chinese Eastern Railway. This is the finest town in Manchuria. Large big station with a park (unreadable) There are three parts to this town, New, Old Harbin, and China Town. On this section they have American locomotives. The town has thousands of rickshaws run by coolies. The Soogaree (Songhua) river runs through this town, big boats come here. About 20 miles south of town a decisive battle was fought between the Russians and the Japanese. There is a line that runs to Port Arthur on the Chinese Eastern Railway. The town has many fine churches.
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More on Harbin here.