Dreams come true on the railway

31-05-2026

Ahead of International Children's Day, capital railway workers made the dream of six-year-old Anuar Absattarov come true by inviting him and his grandmother to the Astana Operational Locomotive Depot and arranging a ride on a locomotive traveling from the depot to the station to couple with a passenger train.

Anuar has been fascinated by railroads for over two years and dreams of becoming a diesel locomotive driver. His interest in the main line sparked at the age of four in the village of Toretam, where he frequently visited the station. His attention was captured by the people in yellow vests, the locomotives, and the complex work of the railway staff.

Anuar knows the purpose of a wheel chock, understands why sand is used in locomotives, and is well-versed in locomotive series and the intricacies of railway infrastructure.

Today, the family lives in Astana near the "Nurly Zhol" station complex. The boy regularly visits the station with his grandmother Almagul to watch trains arrive and depart. Over this time, he became well-known to the station staff, who shared the story of the young railway enthusiast with KTZ management. This is how the family received an invitation to visit the locomotive depot.

The ride in the locomotive cab made a special impression on Anuar. He watched the work of the driver and the assistant driver intently, asking questions about every stage of train operation.

During the tour, the boy showed great interest in the locomotive crew's work, the design of turnouts, container transportation, and the purpose of shunting signals. He learned that a blue light prohibits movement, while a lunar-white light permits shunting operations. He was also fascinated by the Integrated Locomotive Safety Device, which displays train speed and other locomotive operating parameters.

"It is clear that the railway is not just a hobby for him. He asks insightful questions. Perhaps in a few years, we will see him among the ranks of railway workers," noted Konstantin Tsoy, Deputy General Director for Locomotive Fleet at "KTZ – Freight Transportation" LLP.

The trip to the depot was a wonderful gift for Anuar and brought him one step closer to his dream.

Press service of JSC «NC«Kazakhstan Temir Zholy»