"Subway Tunnel" self-made concrete mixer.
Russian "Foolish Old Man" Leonid Muryanchik.
Entrance to the "Subway Tunnel."
According to Russian media reports on May 31, Leonid Muryanchik, a retired man over 60 years old, is still single. However, since 1984, for 26 years, he has been persistently building his own version of a "private subway." To date, he has completed all the necessary approval procedures for the project and has finished digging about 200 meters of tunnels. Leonid's "Foolish Old Man spirit" has moved Russia.
Building a "Private Subway" for 26 Years
Reports indicate that Leonid Muryanchik, a retired man over 60, originally from the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan, currently resides in a village on the outskirts of Lebedyan, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia. In the 1980s, Leonid conceived an unusual idea: to build a "private subway" under the village, connecting every household in the village and neighboring villages. Since 1984, he began digging the subway tunnel, and for the next 26 years, the project proceeded intermittently. Due to its scientifically sound design, this "copycat project" was officially approved by the local planning department, and all materials were fully prepared.
No Helpers, Only Using Shovels and Pickaxes
It is well known that subway facilities have always been massive projects requiring substantial investment. What is astonishing is that Leonid's "private subway" was entirely completed by him alone—funding and material costs came solely from his meager pension, and all earthwork relied on his manual labor. Without any help, Leonid's subway project progressed very slowly; last year, it advanced only 5 meters. Fortunately, he is intelligent and naturally a skilled craftsman. Whether it is designing plans, revising blueprints, or implementing technical innovations, nothing can stump him.
Leonid’s excavation tools are simply a hoe and a shovel. In fact, Leonid had once considered hiring workers and even attempted a "shareholding system." He signed cooperation agreements with 166 villagers, but when they realized that all wages would have to wait until after the subway started operating and profits would be distributed from ticket sales, everyone abandoned the project.
Concrete, Bricks, and Lime All Made by Himself
This "private subway" is indeed rudimentary, yet its main tunnel has an arched ceiling that is 1.5 meters high, capable of accommodating a 60-ton train. Leonid also laid water supply and drainage pipes in the subway tunnel and installed fire hydrants.
Leonid’s subway tunnel also reserves numerous holes, so if any of his neighbors in the village want to join this network in the future, they can easily "expand and connect"—extending the tunnel to their homes. To save money, Leonid made his own concrete mixer, and even the lime and bricks used for wall construction were baked in a stove he built himself.
Already Dug 200 Meters with Two Lines
It is reported that Leonid's "copycat subway" tunnel is located 2 meters underground. Since the inside of the tunnel is supported by steel pipes and both walls and ceilings are reinforced with concrete, safety is absolutely guaranteed, and there is no need to worry about collapses. As the project progresses, his speed has greatly increased. Nowadays, it takes one day to advance the tunnel by 1 meter.
To date, Leonid's subway tunnel has already been dug to about 200 meters. The "Line 1" runs parallel to the village's main road, while the "Line 2" leads to his beloved woman, villager Catherine, in the neighboring village. Once the subway is completed, there will be trains capable of carrying 4 people running between the lines. At that time, there will be a "subway station" at the doorstep of each household in the village, and the subway fare will be very cheap, ranging from 20 to 25 rubles per ticket.
If He Had Money, He Would Also Build an Airplane
It is understood that a double-decker yacht Leonid built himself, due to lack of funds for maintenance, can only remain docked on the riverbank, exposed to the elements. Leonid had also dreamed of building a human-powered airplane. However, he lacked the necessary funds. Although the completion of the "private subway" is still far off, Leonid refuses to give up easily.