The BAM: Russia's Unknown Trans-Siberian Train🇷🇺 

Skyped my mum the other day and heard Russian in the back ground on the tele so I asked what they were watching. My mom tells me they are watching an episode of "Bald and Beautiful" about the trans-siberian. Whenever you're feeling down Mr. Bald, just know that to my mom you are bald and beautiful!

Does anybody else get anxious when he says things like, 'the train is stopping for five minutes,' and then goes off exploring? Just me?

My grandfather was a colonel in the army in charge of building rail lines at the time that the BAM was built. People who were high ranking in the army were often sent to lead the building of that line for 5 years at a time, then after 5 years a new group would arrive. The average normal worker worked there for 2 years, he says. Because it was so brutal out there (my grandfather says that some men woke up in the middle of the night with their hair completely frozen to their pillow), people who worked on the BAM had benefits like being able to retire early, and having a pension that pays more than normal. They were also given a salary that was double that of a person of the same rank not working on the BAM. It was a big commitment to go out there and work on the rail lines. Many chose to bring their entire families over with them to avoid the family falling apart after 5 years of being gone. Others choosing not to go build the BAM were instead sent to places like Kiev or St. Petersburg to work on the rail lines there. Just thought I'd share a bit. My family's eyes lit up when I showed them this video. Brought back some memories for them.

Gotta say, as an American, learning about all these little Russian towns and republics and train stations is weirdly interesting. What a fascinating country.

That incredibly cultured woman was such a fantastic guide. "Yes, of course."

Bald’s videos put a smile on my face. No pretension, no fancy music/graphics. Just raw passionate vlogging. Will be a dark day when Bald gives this up.

Человек, который делает для туризма России больше, чем все министерства. Спасибо!

I’m having one of the worst times in my life mentally, health wise and financially. As soon as I came across your channel and watched a few of them I felt my mood lift instantly. Due to my health issues I have only been able to leave my home 7 times this year and it’s now November!! I feel as if I’m escaping through you. Please keep them coming. Keep safe n sane chap

"They weren't just legends. They were ....Soviet legends." Fecking epic. Bald just keeps crushing it.

"I don't watch television...its all propaganda!" Bless this man & everyone around the globe! In England, in USA, Russia... all the same message, but Bald is out there proving that we all can get along and love our fellow brothers and sisters in all parts of the world no matter where we are from!

You can tell that lady doesnt get to conduct tours often, especially not with a foreigner. She was very happy to show you around.

Я русский из Петербурга, мне 37 лет, коренной Петербуржец, но мне после этого видео стыдно! Я даже английский не знаю и смотрел с субтитрами, но за эти 35 минут узнал так много информации и так интересно она подана, что думаю ни один учитель в России так бы интересно и увлекательно не смог бы рассказать про БАМ! После этого ролика хочется гуглить, гуглить и ещё раз гуглить более подробно про великий БАМ!

My parents who joined the BAM construction in the early 80s always say that they felt like pioneers colonizing a new untouched planet. The youth of humanity got together on that project, enthusiastic and full of aspiration for the bright future of mankind, an interstellar communist future.

Geography teacher here. Absolutely cracking first 90 seconds in terms of catching the audience's attention, and keeping it for the rest of the video. A stunning lesson in how geography, economics and politics intersect. I spent the next 3 hours reading up on everything I could find about the BAM etc..:-).

Fun to see places from my past. I was one of those who built the railroad back in the day. Saw the Tynda Vokzal being constructed.

Man gotta say, im not like an absolute avid watcher of your channel, but you’ve got such a positive attitude towards life in general and it really puts a smile on my face, even in the less than ideal days, Thank you for doing what you’re doing man!

The lady selling ice cream on the train seemed sweet. The staff in general seemed very friendly and gregarious

I don't know how he does it. It is like he has an entire crew with him - you know, like Palin and those other indefatigable travellers. The editing alone is fantastic. And, apart from the utterly fascinating subject matter, beautiful scenery and masterful commentary, there are all these little touches everywhere that act like punctuation marks or conjunctions linking the "text" together. It's brilliant stuff. Award winning really, but there is no RU-vid category at the Emmys. There should be!

РолтОн или доширак? - ролтон Ну ладно Omg это супер

19:00 this lady was an absolute treasure of culture and Russian beauty and wit

That babushka at the Palace of Culture seems like one of the greatest people you've met on this trip. So well-spoken, a lovely explainer, and knew her stuff. I would have absolutely wanted a whole episode on her and her stories, she's excellent!

Every time Ben walks away from camera I can't help imagining how he walks back to pick it up from the ground.

3501 kms?!??!!?? My god that’s incredible. I’m learning so much from this channel. It’s also making people from other countries more human. Amazing stuff Bald thank you.

For a non-Russian I have studied a LOT about Russia/USSR both personally and academically, but this is the first time I heard of the BAM! Thank you for the candid education! I continue to learn about Russia. In a humorous context, I would NOT rub Lenin’s head for good luck.😬

Every day I check RU-vid hoping to see a new Bald and Bankrupt video!!! Today is a good day. Thank you for all your amazing content sir. best wishes, Mike

WHO Never miss even a single VLOG OF THIS Man. GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND

This content is way better than History Channel TV. Greetings from Tampico-México 🙋🏻‍♂️🇲🇽

i like how the Russian guy on the train, turns off his TV, when media says bad things about Ukraine and the West. I do the same. I am so tired of this "balls-size-competition" between West and East. So I do the same, when the West portraits the East like villains! Turn off the TV.. Thank you Bald for a great cultural experience.

Не смог удержаться от комментария. Случайно попал на это видео, увидел вокзал города Северобайкальск и вспомнил, как я сам в 1976 году в составе стройотряда "Авангард" Ленинградского инженерно-строительного института работал на рубке просеки, по которой должна была пройти железная дорога. В Северобайкальске тогда не было ни одного капитального здания, только времянки, а магазины были в "полубочках". Был СМП-575 треста "Нижнеангарстрансстрой", где наш отряд был трудоустроен. Но мы работали не в Северобайкальске, а в глухой тайге, ближайший населенный пункт был Верхняя Заимка, но мы там так и не побывали. Два месяца рубили просеку, жара, комары, мошка. Есть что вспомнить даже через 45 лет. А вокзал в Северобайкальске красивый, приятно, что и улица названа в честь Ленинграда. Нас тогда в Северобайкальске было два стройотряда из ЛИСИ и ЛИИЖТа, и еще много ленинградских строителей. Жаль, что ресторан "Ленинград" больше не работает. Почему? Никто не ходит?

Snoring dude cracked me up.

Thanks for this great documentary Benjamin! I just want to let you know that not only the CCCP countries were involved, even my (West-)German Grandfather got invited as an engineer to support the construction of the BAM infrastructure in the late 1970th. It was a fascinating time back then, right before the Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow…

Bald is a better history teacher through his vlogs than any that I had

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” You are helping all of us by being our surrogate traveler in Russia. Thank you very much.

Amazing, well educated middle-aged lady guide. The way she was speaking slowly and legible for non-native speakers to understand.

That lady in the library, bless her heart, she sounded like she really had a lot of fond memories of the 70s and 80s... you should have given her at least 5 min. of air time to tell her story.

Greetings here from Germany. I start watching your journey some weeks ago and i can feel the spirit. I was 2 years working in ukraine, living in a small city between the locals. And it was so nice. Back to germany i told my collegues when they were complaining about work and life, go there and you will know what you have at home. Greetings to all people in the East you have my greatest respect.

As a Latvian, I learned something new about our people from a British man in Siberia. What an odd world we live in... I love it! Thank you.

It's been a while since we've seen a "wall of hotties." It's good to know some traditions never die.

Mr. Bald and Bankrupt is the most authentic and unpretentious gentleman on RU-vid

28:45 weird how much this resonates with the ongoing war in Ukraine...

The "cultured lady" is a blessing. What an interesting person to meet.

Learning about my country through the eyes of a foreigner. What a nice ride!

Так необычно видеть родные места и слышать в них английский язык

Бенжамин, спасибо за ролики! Смотрел про БАМ не отрываясь! Ты супер! Так круто передать дух Сибири и простого человеческого отношения. А главное умение коммуницировать со всеми и не бояться ничего.

I’m not sure what is the best thing about this channel, Benjamin's love of people or his passion for their history. He's never loutish, rude or arrogant, just genuinely interested and he definitely has a way with the babushkas.

I think russia is really underrated. Nature is so beautiful there - It's just the language barrier

This is the most satisfying content to ever watch, service to humanity, every year that passes these videos will get more and more valuable. History is priceless.

Bald finding a lush, green, arboretum in the cold of Siberia in a gray building was breathtaking in a way. one of his best videos yet.

Man, your channel is truly a gem. My mother worked in many Siberian cities as a doctor, and told me a lot about people, architecture, nature and so on, so glad that now I can watch it. Большое человеческое спасибо за ваш труд.

Ben's fantastic humour and empathy for the people he meets really makes this series a special experience.

That train station/arboretum lady was cool. She seemed very knowledgeable.

I remember reading a fascinating book by an author called Dervla Murphy, somewhat of a predecessor to Bald and Bankrupt. In her mid seventies and despite not speaking Russian she travelled alone across Siberia by the BAM in 2005 and became great friends with many Siberians, especially in Severobaikalsk. She also had a brilliant picture of the Winter Garden where there actually used to be a Flamingo called Yuri, who landed there by accident! She also loved a good beer with the locals just like Mr. Bald! The book is called Through Siberia By Accident and is a brilliant read!

(Пишу на русском, потому что по видео понял, что вы хорошо его понимаете) Искренне считаю БАМ более интересным, чем Транссиб: и по архитектуре, и по видам из окна. Рад, что благодаря этому видео про БАМ за рубежом узнает чуть больше людей!

This brought back so many memories! I travelled the BAM railway back in 2007 and had a very similar experience with a guy snoring so loudly I had zero sleep! Lol Great seeing the landscape and towns along the way. It's a beautiful part of the world :)

Boss, you literally bring tears to my eyes with the 'characters' you run into. Take for example the scarf-headed woman you're conversing with in the arboretum. She's nothing to 'market' and capitalize on, in the Western sense of the word. Yet, for those of us 'in-the-know', she reeks of culture, wisdom, and world experiences. I can just feel it. Thank you. I gadda say, this vlog, along with your Lunix IX, is one of your masterworks. Thanks.

Every time Ben walks away from the station I get slight anxiety he’s gonna miss the train 😂

I learned so much about Russia and the Soviet Union from your videos. Before I was more like there is nothing there, but now I really want to travel there. The only thing stopping me that I don't speak a single Russian word. So I will learn it. Thanks for your viodeos.

I said to myself and friends that I would never go to Russia...but now it's all changed after watching this vdo. Very kind people all around. I'm planning my trip overland all the way from where I am...Thailand. Thank you. Let me know if ever you'll be over to Thailand...

I love that you go from educational historical content to “let’s find a beer and visit the wall of hotties!” Brilliant!

- Ролтон или Доширак?😋 - Ролтон - Ну ладно 😟

Stumbled in this geezer by accident. Great videos. None of the usual condescension you usually get when interacting with ordinary Russians people. Great to see him interact with all the mature Russian ladies! Hope to visit Russia soon and this video has inspired me to go off the beaten (rail) track! Well done, sir - my compliments!

33:22 С Тындинского Тиндера проорал. У Бенджамина невероятное чувство юмора)

"And heres the culprit who kept me up all night" Mans not even 4 ft away

Here I am at my 3rd shift warehouse job, stressed and ready to get the night over with. Now I have something to look forward to when I get home! Thanks bald 😃

I really found the librarians comments interesting about the feeling of family during communism. It must have been so interesting to live in those times! What a service Benjamin is doing for all of us in exposing this in such detail. I really enjoy this.

I enjoyed every minute of this video. Bald does more to improve international relations than any politician. Wonderful.

bald: "this is the old shopping center" me: "don't say it bald, do not say it" bald: "tHe OLd sOvIeT sHoPpInG cEnTeR" lov it

Lots of Russians learn a lot about their own motherland from you! I would never have travelled to all these places myself, you showed them to me! And it’s even more interesting to see it from foreigner’s perspective!

Can't talk highly enough of Bald and his videos. No other channel comes close to cultural immersion and historical education. This is exactly what RU-vid was made for.

Слышишь время гудит БАМ! На просторах крутых БАМ! И большая тайга покоряется нам. Слышишь время гудит БАМ! На просторах крутых БАМ! Это колокол наших сердец молодых.

The magic of Ben's videos is that somehow they give you that vibe of "oh man, I wish I could do exactly the same, just travel across lands, meet people, ride trains and be happy and free". It's a wholesome feeling

I was bummed he didn't say "wow, soviet turtles" when he approached that pond.

Bald getting better and better. Even to the hideous Trolls, Bald is considered an Untouchable...

23:52 "Everyone helped out, travelled here, young people came, they came from every corder.... Everyone was so friendly back then we were friends with our neighbours"

узнаю историю своей страны с канала англичанина, просто прекрасно, спасибо женщине в красном , супер!

The storytelling, the encounters, the filming and editing, it's all pure gold. The sheer amount of research that must have gone into making these episodes is mind boggling. You have a great gift, thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Kudos for the language skill!! Super impressive! Cheers from a Russian living in USA, need to travel on BAM some day after seeing your vids :)

6:30 у меня та же проблема - не могу спать, когда кто то храпит))) Если становится невыносимо - разбужу лучше, чем наматывать километры моих нервов на колеса поезда.

Спасибо тебе Бенджамен за то, что рассказываешь о России с любовью !

3M+ subs and still no annoying promotions in between just 100% authentic videos with great introspect, editing, commentary. Endless love to this man.

One thing to remember if you're going to be Bald's traveling companion: NO SNORING; or give him a pair of quality 'Soviet' earplugs!!!

Well Ben I've always longed to travel in Russia. I only found your channel due to my interest in ekranoplans and I've been binge watching ever since. I read somewhere you are giving up blogging but I hope that's not true. I'm 60 now and I think next year I'll be breaking my Russian travel virginity. Thanks for all the great videos you've done... you're a real inspiration. Shalom brother.

Benjamin's travel videos are truly unique and his social skills off the charts.

THIS is what the internet is all about. Travel to unknown places, meeting and making friends with interesting people, exploring history, culture, food and booze ;). My favourite channel on youtube for sure, thanks for everything you do my man.

The moment you reached the lake was really special for me. I've dreamt about getting there since I was a kid. I will definitely go and film some stuff there, too, one day! Absolutely amazing video, mate!

As I have novosibirsk blood in me and speak fluent russian since childhood before moving to eu. You bring me nostalgia. Ochen krutej kanal

18:12 love this lady: she’s so thorough when explaining the BAM history. Great presentation. It’s like she was presenting in front of a huge audience 🤔

It's hard for people to understand the engineering aspect of things. I'm glad Bald can appreciate it. It truly is a stunning feat for humanity to be able to do such a thing; tunnel mountains, flatten hills, just to lay down steel and wood for some big motorized contraption to zip through there.

That lake was a true landmark, what a beautiful piece of nature :OO

That brings back memories when I worked in the West Siberian oilfields. Train from Surgut to Salym and vv and Salym to tyumen . Some time ago 2004 til 2010.

Hello Bald and bankrupt my name is Orlando im 11 years old and I live in Australia, ever since I was 5 I had a great joy of learning about history, one day you came to my recommendations Exploring a Belorussian village I clicked on the video and immediately watched all your videos learning not just about the soviet union but also India, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Cuba, and many more for the 10th birthday I decided to read your book and from the first page all the way to the last I enjoyed the book very much, you have been my biggest inspiration yet that I even pick you yourself to be part of my school inspirational class which is a subject were u pick an idol and write a whole book worth about them, I surprisingly came first and to this day I thank u for making all of your videos and writing your one extraordinary book. ps, it's up to you but could I have a shout-out on your next video.

I love the moment after Bald has conversations with the locals in perfect Russian, then walks away speaking a quintessential British accent to his camera... the sheer look of surprise on their faces is always gold

I experienced -42c in Krasnoyarsk December/January 2010. It was strange as it was not as "cold" as you imagine, as it was very dry. These are really great videos.

Hey, me, Tomichka here again. My grandad and grandma were involved in the construction of the bridges stretching along BAM's 3501 km. My grandad worked right at the railway bridge construction spots for decades and my grandma was an accountant in those construction projects for the same long time. By the time they almost got retired they settled in Tomsk.

The water in lake Baikal has purity of distilled water, that's why it's safe to drink it, not because it has some special purposes :) The purity achieved by special type of algae that lives in the lake and also the numerous hundreds of tiny rivers that run their course from snowy mountains.

In 1969 I was in Japan. My job took me near Russian airspace. Although it had very little coverage in the West, the conflict between China and Russia was well known to some, especially those who had immigrated to Hokkaido. I can only guess that it was as secretive as it was because two countries claiming to have established the perfect form of government (communism) would be in a border conflict. I came back to the USA and returned to college. Interestingly no one ever mentioned the conflict in any class I took (a state university in Illinois). Since I took 30 semester hours of Russian some 52 years ago (hence I have forgotten most of it), I loved listening to the language being spoken in travel. I am now past 75, so I am not certain I will get to make the trip, so thank you for taking us along on your journey.

Постоянный храп парня в поезде отличный саундтрек к вашему фильму 🤣

Snoring Russian dude was hilarious. Thanks for taking us a tour in Russia!

The BBC couldn't do a better travel-docu. You are getting really professional at it now. I hope you make enough to continue travelling and recording fascinating people and places.

“And there’s the culprit who kept me up all night” right in front of dude man 😂