TU7 narrow gauge diesel engine with local train on the Alapayevsk narrow-gauge railway, a Russian railway with a track gauge of 750 mm (2 ft 5 1⁄2 in). The first section of the railway began operations in July 1898. Construction was undertaken by French businessman A. Illero. The railway had a maximum length of about 600 kilometres (370 miles) in the seventies, though estimates vary. At present only 250 kilometres (160 miles) of the railway is operational. Current operations include passenger traffic and general goods movement. The narrow gauge railway operates a scheduled Passenger Service from Alapaevsk to lard-to-reach settlements in the Alapaevsk District: Elnichnaya; Garaninka; Strokinka; Berezovka; Muratkovo; Sankino and Kalach.