Eastern European Toilets in Motion

Russian train toilet Russian passenger car on Moscow-Sankt Peterburg line. Many Russian train toilets have weak or broken springs on the trapdoor at the base of the bowl, providing a view of the tracks rushing past underneath and a refreshing breeze. No TP, just a wire brush in a small bucket....

Latvian train toilet Latvian passenger car on the Riga-Tallinn line. Note the footpads — most Soviet rail cars were built to all-USSR standards, hence this feature for Central Asian use. Lower the seat and it's a raised throne. In the configuration shown, it's an elevated squatter.

The tricky part is staying perched up there as the train sways through erratic Soviet-era rail joints, especially on the largely unmaintained Russian rail lines. The exposed plumbing may provide adequate hand grips for those trying these advanced techniques, although I someone in in our group working at the hospital in Sankt-Peterburg was sent flying, with semi-disasterous results, during just such an attempt.


       A Sani-Flush blue border indicates a toilet that I've used.

If you're not bored yet, you might be interested in (or at least tolerate):


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