Part 1. Prerequisites for the construction of the steam locomotive plant in Haivoron District

The XIX century became victorious in the life of the inhabitants of the Pribuzhskiy Region. In 1892 the joint-stock company “The First Association of Access Railways of Russia” was established for the construction of narrow-gauge access roads. The Association decided to build 0.750 meter gauge railways. Due to the fact that railroads with broad gage in Russia have not yet been built, the engineers Nikishin and Yalovetsky have developed technical documentation for the rolling stock and facilities for this type of railways. In 1894 the First Association began to build a narrow-gauge railway. In 1899 the railway line Olviopol-Haivoron-Rudnitsa was put into constant service. A year later, trains from Kalinovka began to run to Haivoron.

At first it was cargo transportation, and later a passenger one. So, already in 1910, 67 steam locomotives, 135 passenger carriages, 25 baggage wagons and 1364 freight wagons were operated. To repair locomotives and wagons, it was decided to build in Haivoron main railway workshops and a locomotive depot. The works started in 1893 by builders from Filimonovka village (now it is the eastern part of Bershad, Vinnytsia Region). The first building commissioned in 1897 was the building where the mechanical workshop of “Haivoron Diesel Locomotive Repair Plant” PJSC is now located. In this workshop wheel mount, drilling machine, planing and turning machines and grinder were installed. Due to the lack of electric motors, all equipment was activated thanks to the steam engine and the steam boiler. The workshop was dark and noisy. Lighting was primitive gas lamps, candles, torches and lighting instruments. Through the whole shop the rail way was laid, on which only one engine could run, which was repaired for 3-4 months. All work was done manually with a hammer, chisel and file … (to be continued)