THE SOFIA-BURGAS RAIL LINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004600640002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 6, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States. within the mean-
Ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 784, of the U3. Code, as
amended. IM tanamis on 4 revelation of its contents
to or $oelpt by an u%eutboeised person is plohlblt d
by lay. The reproduction of this foam I. prohibited.
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The Sofia-Burgas rail line runs through the following localities: Sofia,
Plovdiv, Chirpan, Mikhaylovo, Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Yambol, Zimnitsa, Karno-
bat, and Burgas. It has a length of 160 kilometers and requires a travel time
of approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes. It is a single-track, standard-gauge
(143 centimeters) line. TA?a4ns,are:~dtawn by steam locomotives. The line has
eight bridges and no tunnels. Repair workca the rails, abutments, etc* is under
way along the whole length of the line.
2. The bridge over the Peschenik River located approximately 4.5 kilometers east of
Gara Filipovo (N 42-10, E 24-45, Plovdiv North Station), has the following
characteristics,
a. Type of bridge: Metal, girder type, two spans of 30 meters each.
b. Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
C. Length: 70 meters.
d. Width: 8 meters.
e. Height above river beds 6 meters.
f. Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide, paved with wood.
g. Side walls: Metal, with railingse,
h. Capacity: 2,500 kilograms per square meters
i. Supports: Equalizing bed type.
J. Current: Slow.
STATE J ARMY X jNAVY X lAIR X FBI AEC
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 6 August 1954
NO. OF PAGES 5 25X1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
 k. High water mark: 3 meters.
1. Low mark: 30 centimeters.
m. Slope of banks: 100.
3. The bridge over the Str-xna River located approximately seven kilometers east of
the preceding bridge has the following characteristics:
a.
Type of bridge: Metal., girder type., three spans of 20 meters each.
b.
Girders: Rectilinear girders, continuous-trellis type, 6 meters high, joined
by hinges.
c.
Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
d.
Length: 70-76 meters.
e.
Width: 8 meters.
f.
Height above river bed: 8 meters.
g.
Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide., paved with wood,
h.
Capacity:
2,500 kilograms per square meter.
i.
Supports.
Equalizing bed type.
j.
Current:
Slow.
k.
High water mark:
2 meters.
1.
Low water mark:
140 .centimeters.
m.
Slope of banks:
400.
4. The bridge over the Tundzha River located seven kilometers north of the railroad
station of Yamb.,1 (N 142-29, E 26-30), has the following characteristics:
a.
Type of bridge: Metal, girder type., with four spans of 15 meters each.
b.
Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
c.
Length: 72 meters.
d.
Width: 8 meters.
e.
Height above river bed: 8--9 meters.
f.
Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide, paved with wood.
g.
Side walls:
Metal,, with railings.
h.
Capacity:
2,500 kilograms per square meter.
i.
Supports:
Equalizing bed type.
 Approved For Release 2007/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600640002-2
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
J. Current: Very slow.
k. High water mark: 2-2.5 meters.
1. Low water marks 50 centimeters*
in. Slope of banks: 400.
The bridge located over an unidentified stream located 4-5 kilometers east of
the Zimnitsa railroad station (N 1i2-35, E 26-36) has the following character-
istics:
a. Type of bridge: Metal, girder type, two spans of 20 meters each.
b. Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
c. Length: 50 meters.
d. Width: 8 meters.
e. Height above river bed: 10 meters*
f. Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide, paved with wood.
g. Side walls: Metal, with railings.
h. Capacity: 2,500 kilograms per square meter*
i. Supports: Not known.
J. Current: Slow.
k. High water mark: Not known.
1. Low water mark: 140 centimeters.
in. Slope of banks: 400.
6. The bridge over the Azmak Dere River located approximately 10 kilometers west of
Karnobat (N 142-39, E 26-59) has the following characteristics:
a. Type of bridge: Metal, girder type, two spans of 15 meters each.
b. Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
Length: 36 meters.
d. Width: 8 meters.
e. Height above river bed: 8-9 meters.
f. Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide, paved with wood.
g. Side walls: Metal, with railings.
h. Capacity: 2,500 kilograms per square meter.
 i.
S:appcrts: Equalizing bed type.
j.
k.
Curie:at: Slowe
High water marks
Not known.
1.
Low water mark:
40 centimeters.
in.
Slope of banks:
00.
The bridge over the Aytos River located approximately eight kilometers west of
Aytos (N 42?42s S 27-16) has the following characteristics:
a. Type of bridge: Metals with three spans of 15 meters each.
b. Abutme :Fs and piles: Stone masonry.
Length:
60 meters.
d. Width:
8 meters.
e.
Height above river. bed: 8-9 meters.
f.
S rvice paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide, paved with wood.
g.
Side walls: Metal, with railings.
h.
Capacci'ty: 2.500 lr:.logram.s per square meter.
i.
Supports: Eoializf..ng bed type.
j.
Current: Rs. ;^er fa *.
k.
High water marks
3 meters.
1.
Low water marks
50 centimeters.
m.
Slope of banks:
500-
8. The bridge Wirer the Ropotamo River located eight or nine kilometers south of the
railroad stati:,r. cf Aytos has the following characteristics:
a. Type of bridge: Metal., girder types two spans of 15 meters each.
b. Abutments and piles: Stone masonry.
c. Leng+w.: 36 meters.
d. Width: 8 meters.
e. Height above river beds 8 meters.
f. Service paths: 2 side paths each 1.5 meters wide., paved with wood.
g. Side walls: Metals with railings.
 Approved For Release 2007/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600640002-2
h. Capacity: 2,500 kilograms per square meter*
i. Supports. Equalizing bed type.
j. Current: Slow.
k. High water mark: 2 meters.
1. Low water marks 40 centimeters.
in. Slope of banks: 500.
Details of the other bridge along this line, located over the Syutulka River
between the bridges described in paragraphs 4 and 5 above, are unknown to in-
formant.