Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 December 23

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December 23

Railroads between China and Germany that go through Kalmykia

World railway network

Are there any railroads between China and Germany that go through both Kalmykia and at least one of these two regions: Atyrau Region and West Kazakhstan Region? Futurist110 (talk) 06:42, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

A more interesting question is, why do you want to know? --174.95.161.129 (talk) 09:08, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Because I'm speculating about an alternate history scenario that results in Imperial Germany imposing an even more severe Brest-Litovsk Treaty on Russia that also strips Russia of both Kalmykia and Central Asia and where Germany subsequently wants to build its own railroad to China through Central Asia. Futurist110 (talk) 19:47, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for answering. --174.95.161.129 (talk) 22:19, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

The Russians weren't completely without leverage, the Germans needed to stop the eastern war sooner than they did in real life as Americans were correctly expected to be a potential tide turner once enough arrived. The French were also salivating at the hope of the reinforcements letting them recover every inch plus Alsace-Lorraine and annex Saar (more?, they took more temporarily in real life, plus crippling fines) so even if they had preferred to end the Western Front to focus on the East it might cost a heavy price in the west. In reality the Germans asked for too much not too little. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 23:02, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

To get from Berlin to China by rail, the direct and common route is to travel from Berlin to Moscow, then take the Trans-Siberian railroad, using its southern branch that crosses Mongolia (if not, you'll end up stuck in Vladivostok, you lucky man). You can also do it by using a very convoluted route instead, traveling through Central Asia via Saratov, Tashkent and Almaty, then back north to Barnaul and join the Trans-Siberian from there by using smaller lines. Going through Atyrau would require additional detours, but it's not impossible, and you can cross a portion of western Kazakhstan if you again don't take the main route. If you just want to get to China, it's definitely not the route you'd want to take, but if you have all the time in the world and love spending time in old Soviet-era trains, why not. To go through Kalmykia, you'd have to head south from Moscow towards Baku, then retrace your steps back north probably all the way to Voronezh to rejoin a main line bound for the east. Basically a huge detour that makes no sense if you're actually looking to get to China. Xuxl (talk) 15:05, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks! Futurist110 (talk) 05:03, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

Vladivostok to Lisbon then yacht to Miami, train to Vancouver and ship to Vladivostok and then another route home without flying sounds like a fun trip, I've gotten jet lag from going east on a bus so west only please. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 16:01, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

You're basically proposing a Jules Verne in reverse, Sagittarian Milky Way. It might be a challenge to find a ship going direct from Vancouver to Vladivostok, however. Xuxl (talk) 18:50, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Solution: Buy two yachts. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 19:55, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

How else are you supposed to appreciate the size of the world? Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:02, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

From space. The ultimate case of stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. (Well, maybe not the ultimate. You could always step back from the universe.) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:40, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Step back from the universe! Raise your hands above your head!  --Lambiam 08:52, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

You put your corporeal existence in, you put your corporeal existence out. In, out, in, out, you shake it all about! {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.56.237 (talk) 10:51, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

A well-known joke over here: Someone shows up at Bexbach station and wants to buy a ticket to Beijing. The railway official starts searching his records. A quarter of an hour passes by: "Sorry, we cannot sell you a ticket to Beijing, we can sell you a ticket to Berlin". Upon arrival in Berlin same question, same answer: "Sorry, we cannot sell you a ticket to Beijing, we can sell you a ticket to Moscow". In Moscow finally they can make up a ticket to Beijing. The traveler is in Beijing and wants to return home and buy a ticket to Bexbach: The railway official in Beijing starts searching his records. After one minute: "Well, do you want the ticket made up to de:Niederbexbach, de:Mittelbexbach or de:Oberbexbach" ? --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 18:57, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

Miami can sell you a train or bus ticket to Edmonton maybe a little north but not Alaska. If you have car and balls you can drive from Arctic Ocean Yukon or almost Arctic Deadhorse, Alaska to end of the line in almost Colombia. Please stop at end of pavement though, encroachment and cocaine is hurting environment and native culture and you will probably get stuck before reaching trail end. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 20:00, 24 December 2020 (UTC)

In the British Army (and possibly elsewhere, but that's my source) there's a similar story to Pp.paul.4's. A British squaddie, on a posting in India in the 1890's, goes into Bombay Railway Station and jokingly asks for a ticket to Manchester. The Indian clerk, without batting an eyelid, promptly replies "Certainly, Sahib! Manchester Central or Manchester London Road?" The real joke is that in the 1890's, the exchange could very likely have happened: Victorian railways were, in some aspects, more efficient than they are today. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.56.237 (talk) 08:15, 25 December 2020 (UTC)