PODGORNAYA (NAGORNAYA) INTERNATIONAL RAILROAD BRIDGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05694A000200380001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 15, 1955
• Content Type: IM

T _._y
-IN Approved For Release 2001/08/13 : CIA-RDP78TO5694A000200380001-5
PODGORNAYA (NAoc NAPA) INTERNATIONAL RADROAD M=E
GPJI..112
(Project 72?351)
]5 My 1955
DECLASS REVIEW by NIMA/DOD
S- 1fr7QJ
int/ date
INDEXED
CODED
CHECKED
RELEASED
r
,&g I
App
CENTRAL 1h1TEUMENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
elease 2001/08/13 : CIA-RDP78T05694A000200380001-5
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GP/I.
3,5 )y 1955
PO YA (NAGORNAAA) INTERNATIONAL RAIIMAD BRIDGE
This mriorandur is in response to a request by 0. C. I. for infotion
On transportation facilities from U. S. S. R. into North Korea across the
T"jn River. An analysis of oblique and vertical aerial photography taken
betpeen reveals the construction of a rail-
d bridge between U. S. S. R. and North Korea across the Tumen River at
l gorr ~a (42?251N 130?391E). Extensive railroad facilities have also teen
constructed on both sides of the Tumen River in this area since World War II.
It is apparent that the Russian rail line from Vladivostok via Kraskina
has been eonected with the North Korean .rail, line at Hongui. By crossing
the P in River at N'agornaya the rail line avoids Chinese territory.
,The railroad bridge as apparently constructed in 1950 and 51. It is
approy-tmtellly 22302 long of steel girder construction resting on concrete
piers. The gauge of track across the bridge could not be determined. There
are road approaches at both ends of the bridge indicating some use by ni for
',.c1es probably ca an emergency basis. The bridge is not wide enough ;or
a _rallel track and roadway nor does it appear to be of double dock cowtruction.
ensive r lroad clas2a f iczation hard has been constructed at Pod
gornaya since World War U. Actually, three destinctive railroad yards may
id+ent" fief, in this area and are indicated on Enclosure 1 as (A). (B), and
I) The i~a k rail yard (A) is approximately 2200' long and 7=8 tracks wide.
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' and (B)r which is six tracks wide, lies just west of, and parallel to, vard
composed of four tracks and a I turn=a-round, serves railroad
shop buildings. A spur track (D) was under construction 1000' to the east
of Yard B in the date of latest available photographic cover-
age,
The layout of tl'e tracks in the Podgornaya classification yard suggests
the possibility that yards A and C may be of standard 408" gauge and yard B
of the Russian .51 gauge,
Similar facilities exist on the North Korean side of the border a mile
west of the railroad bridge, The two distinct railroad yards are identified
an Enclosure 1 as (E) and (F)0 Railroad yard (E) composed of two to four
tracks extends for a distance of almost two miles. lard (F) appears to have
two tracks extending parallel to yard E for a distance of one mile, A I
turn?amround and a rail spur are to the south of Yard E. Again a possibility
exists that one yard may be of standard gauge and the other of the 50 Russian
gauge, However, there is only one track running over the Nagornaya Bridge,
Whether it is 418" gauge or 5? gauge could not be determined from a study of
the available photography.
Apparently an earlier attempt had been made to construct a railroad
bridge across the Tumen River some 7501 downstream from the present Nagornaya
Railroad Bridge, The attempt was not successful probably due to ice floes
and flood conditions in the river.
A highway bridge formerly crossed the Tumen River approximately 30000
below the Nagornaya Bridge, One half of this bridge has been completely
destroyed, I
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The next nearest crossing of the Tumen River is a highway bridge located
rrae irdle Southwest of onghung, North Korea (42?34?N 130?l'E) nine miles
17,) tr r from Nagornaya. _ coverage revealed that limited use is rude of
bridge.
Roads in the area appear to be graded, but of limited capability and use,
rail line is intact southward to Najin. The rail line was not In operation
south of Najin in M Rail traffic from Podgornaya to Changjin and points
Bout sward must reeve by way of Nanrang (42?49'N 129047'E) and Hoeryong (420251N
129?45 '1).
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S.EmCT
GrHER REFERENCES:
M i s s i o n Review Photo Intelligence Report R?.84-12K
24 November 1952 5k8 FE'S SECRET
AlS Map Series L751 Sheet No 7341 131 and 1Y
50
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