| Name: | BAIKAL |
| Type: | Icebreaker Train Ferry |
| Launched: | 29/06/1899 |
| Completed: | 1899 |
| Builder: | Sir WG Armstrong, Mitchell & Co Ltd |
| Yard: | Low Walker |
| Yard Number: | 647 |
| Dimensions: | 4200grt, 290.0 x 57.1 x 19.0ft |
| Engines: | 3 x T3cyl, 3750ihp (total) |
| Engines by: | Wigham Richardson & Co, Low Walker |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Screws aft, 1 x Screw fwd |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Reg Number: | n/a |
| History: | |
| 1899 | Trans-Siberian Railroad, Russia |
| 1926 | Broken up |
| Comments: | Ordered 29/11/1895 at a contract price of £79,890 |
| Built to bridge a gap in the Trans-Siberian Railroad at Lake Baikal in Siberia | |
| Three railway tracks on deck for 25 carriages with accommodation above for passengers | |
| 1896: Erected at Low Walker then dismantled for delivering in 6900 pieces to Lake Baikal | |
| One side of the ship was painted white, the other black & every part was stamped | |
| The engines were allocated Wigham Richardson yard number 325 | |
| A team of engineers from the Tyne led the work of rebuilding the vessel. | |
| 29/06/1899: Launched at Lake Baikal | |
| 1918: Armed with machine guns & cannons by the Red Army | |
| 08/1918: Damaged by field artillery fire and burnt out at Mysovaya | |
| 1920: The damaged hull was towed to Baikal, water pumped out and she was laid up. | |
| 1926: Later dismantled |
Above photo shows the frames being erected. Copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums
Above photo shows engines & boilers ready for shipment. Copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums
Above photo copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums
Above photo shows the bow doors open. Copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums
Profile & Section plans copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums Click HERE to enlarge
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Newcastle Daily Chronicle, Friday, 15/09/1899