The Ruskeala Express

Er796-46, an 0-10-0 built in 1952 by MAVAG in Budapest for the Soviet Union, brings a 3-car Ruskeala Express across the Khelyulyanyoki river on its return trip to the town of Sortavala in the Republic of Karelia. The Ruskeala Express is Russia's first daily steam-powered tourist operation, and began service in summer of 2019. The vibrant blue passenger coaches are permanently assigned to the line, but the locomotives are pulled from Russian Railways' general pool of steam engines and are rotated out somewhat regularly. Er796-46 returned to service in January 2020 after being stored in a strategic reserve since its initial retirement.