RAIL TRANSFER SITES AT ZAHONY, HUNGARY AND CHOP, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04753A000300030007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 22, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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No. Pdges 6
COPY NO.: L_
SECRET
RAIL TRANSFER SITES AT
ZAHONY, HUNGARY AND CHOP, USSR
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CIA/RR-HTA-M9-57
22 MARCH 1957
WARNING: HANDLE VIA CONTROL CHANNELS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
This document contains information usable only within the TALENT CONTROL SYSTEM.
It is to be seen on a MUST-KNOW BASIS ONLY BY PERSONNEL ESPECIALLY INDOC-
TRINATED AND AUTHORIZED. Reproduction is prohibited unless approved by the
originator.
MW SECRET400
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Sees. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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 -TAR eri nnT (UWAk
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ZAHONY, HUNGARY AND CHOP, USSR
CIA/RR-HTA M9m57
22 March 1957
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The European Soviet Satellites
Scale 1:10.000,000
0 100 200 300 400 Statute Miles
Selected railroad 0 100 200 300 400 Kilometers
12756 6.53
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TOP CRET c E .(
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M?9-57
RAIL TRANSFER SITES AT
ZAHONY, HUNGARY AND CHOP, USSR
The rail transfer sites at Zahony in Hungary, and Chop in the USSR,
and the rail transfer site at Cerna, Czechoslovakia described in Photo-
graphic Intelligence Memorandum CIA/RR-HTA M8m57, are located within
three miles of each other. All three sites have been expanded greatly
since World War II and are major rail transloading points between the USSR
and neighboring countries to the west.
The Zahony site, the only rail transfer site in Hungary, is located
two miles southwest of the Chop transfer site and approximately three
miles southeast of the Cerna transfer site.
A comparison of July 1956 aerial photography with that of February
1945 indicates that the Zahony site has been greatly expanded since
World War II. In 1945 the site consisted of a six-track yard approximately
11.800' long. A study of July 1956 photography shows that this transfer
site is now 2.6 miles long, 700 feet wide, and composed of four separate
but adjoining yards.
Construction activity is evident throughout the area. Concrete
platforms are under construction, and filling and leveling operations are
in progress for a probable future expansion of the yard.
TOP SECRET CHESS
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M-9-57
Tall floodlight towers located throughout the site indicate a cap-
ability for night operations. Mechanized equipment includes a large
gantry crane and a lifting facility for the gage-conversion of passenger-
car wheel assemblies,
The Chop site is located approximately two miles northeast of the
Zahony transfer site and three miles east of the Cerna transfer site.
A study of July 1956 aerial photography indicates that this trans-
fer site has increased approximately 50 percent in size since 1945. It
is now approximately two and one-half miles long and 5801 wide, Two new
transloading yards have been constructed adjacent to, and east of, the
original yards, New tracks connect these yards directly with the rail
line leading north to Uzhgorod.
Wartime damage has been repaired, except for the roundhouse which
is now approximately one-third its original size. Floodlight towers
located throughout the site indicate a capability for night operations.
Small cranes and possible hydraulic lifting jacks have been reported
at Chop, but the small scale of the photography precludes positive con-
firmation of these reports. The apparent lack of large mechanized equip-
ment at this transfer site suggests that the heavy freight transloading
and gage-conversion of wheel assemblies is accomplished at the nearby
Cerna and Zahony transfer sites.
The major components of the Zahony and Chop transfer sites are
identified on the accompanying annotated photographic mosaic.
TCID CL rDCT i-uree
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M-9-57
ZAHONY TRANSFER SITE
1. Choke point.
2. Freight transloading yard, 4700'x 475', 12-15 tracks. Includes
two loading platforms, 575'x 30! and 725'x 25'.
3. Classification and transloading yard, 3500'x 640', 21-25 tracks.
b. Water tower, approx. 35' in diameter and 80' high.
5. Classification and transloadinF yard, 3700'x 175' , 21-25 tracks.
Includes a gantry crane serving 5 or 6 tracks.
6. Probable car repair shop, 200'x 70'.
7. Gage-changing facility for passenger cars, 120'x 35.
8. Passenger station, 100'x 35', administration and storage building.
9. Classification and transloading yard, L700'x 510', 26-30 tracks.
Includes a small loading platform 100'x 50' with-truck ramp at
one end; an elevated structure approx. 575! long for unloading
coal cars, and a loading platform 780'x 35' with L70'x 35' shed.
An additional loading platform approx. 780'x 35' and a steel
structure carrying overhead traveling cranes are reported to be
located in this yard, but this cannot be confirmed from a study
of this small scale photography.
10. Turntable, 90' diameter.
11.
12.
13.
Engine repair.shop,
200'x
100'.
Coaling tower.
Choke point.
-
-
CHOP TRANSFER SITE
14. Choke point
15. Warehouse, 230'x 50'.
16. Passenger station, 310'.x 80'.
17. Classification and transloading yard, 3720'x 390', 20-2)4. tracks.
18. Turntable, approx. 80' in diameter. _ -
19. Roundhouse, partially-destroyed. Present capacity 7-8 locomotives,
length of stall 90'.
20. Service yard, 1950'x 260', 9-12 tracks.
21. Transloading yard,-3000'x 520', 20-25 tracks. Includes warehouse
130'x 50' and two loading platforms, 1365'x 15' and 1170'x 35',
with two sheds 310'x 35' and 330'x 35'.
22. Transloading yard, 1i200'x 130', 6-8 tracks. Includes a raised
platform 290'x 10' which appears to be elevated slightly higher
than the top of a-freight car.
23. Choke point.
TllP CFrPj77 rurce
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REQUIREMENT: Prepared in answer to RR/HTA/E/RLi.8/56 requesting information
on the railroad yards at Zahony and Chop. Include length and width
of yard, number of tracks, location and size of platforms, cranes,
locomotive and car shed, and other facilities.
Target Mosaic:
Maps:
AMS Series M671 Sheets W-16 W-17, X-16.
Target Complex Chart
World Aeronautical Chart 232.
Other: CIA Report Noe dated 21 Sept. 1956.
State Dept. Foreign Service Despatch, Budapest
Nos. 311 and 390, dated 31 Dec. 1953 and 26 Feb.
1954.
COORDINATES: Zahony L80214'N - 22?11'E
Chop 48?26!N - 22?13'-E
a6-
TOP SECRET rNFcc
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