Villagers in a remote area of Russia have come up with a novel way of getting about using improvised trolleys on an antiquated railway line.

The narrow-gauge line in Sverdlovsk Region in the Urals has served dozens of villages for more than 100 years and is often their only link to the outside world.

You can do 30km per litre

Whether locals want to go to work, to the shop, out hunting, to visit relatives in the next village or simply go for a ride, the trolley is the easiest and often only means of transport.

"Come rain or shine, we travel by pionerka," one villager told Russian Planeta TV.

The TV said "pionerka" is what locals call trolleys with motorbike engines. Those with chainsaw engines have a different name: "beda", which is Russian for "trouble".

A three-litre can of petrol can take you about 100 kilometres. The line, once used by trains laden with iron ore, was 700km long back in the 19th Century. Just 200km remain today.

The line, called the Alapayevskaya narrow-gauge railway, is also used by a proper train, on and off.

The problem is when there's a collision and you get arguments over who is to blame

Station master Yegor Nemchinov

"Let's suppose the train runs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays," a train driver tells the TV.

"Yet you need to go to hospital, or somewhere else really important, on a Wednesday."

Trouble is, the trolleys are not subject to traffic control. The line belongs to the local authorities, but there is just one safety inspector.

Real trains share line with trolleys

"The problem is when there's a collision and you get arguments over who is to blame - the engine driver or the trolley?" says station master Yegor Nemchinov.

At least the onset of Russia's harsh winter halts the unofficial traffic.

But, come spring, dozens of these iron jalopies are rolled out from back gardens, loaded with potatoes or other merchandise.

Locals say it's quicker by rail. And you can't get lost.

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