ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF PASSENGER FACILITIES OF NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAYS OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The most typical architectural and spatial, compositional and stylistic features of passenger facilities of narrow-gauge railways of Ukraine are investigated as branches of railway buildings. Also the connection between them and other types of public transport is examined here. Narrow-gauge railways in Ukraine appeared on the turn of the XIX - XX centuries in mountainous and forest areas and also in the area that was the most appropriate for transportation. Modern existing Borzhava- (Transkarpathia), Polissia- (Rivne region, Volyn), Hayvoron- (South Podilla, Central Ukraine), Vyhoda- (Galicia) narrow-gauge railways carry out passenger transportation. They are served by railway stations and other passenger facilities; it is also the great potential for sightseeing transportations. The most significant Antonivka, Bershad’, Vynohradovo, Hayvoron, Holovanivsk, Dokhne, Іrshava, Rudnytsia railway stations are peculiar for their time and region of building; the connection of their architecture with buildings of other types of public transport is established. The high professional level of the objects built in the first half of the ХХ century, the need to renovate access to the platforms, and to improve the facilities at intermediate stations deserve special attention. Passenger facilities of narrow-gauge railways have historically developed public transport architecture of some settlements and territories and now they require a professional approach to their study, preservation and development. A positive example is the current state of similar facilities in other European countries.

Keywords: passenger building, railway station, narrow-gauge railway, architectural, spatial, compositional, stylistic properties.