Tymczasowy grób – pociąg : podróż do i z Kolonii w twórczości Władimira Kantora

This article attempts to analyze and interpret an extremely popular in the Russian literature spatial category, which is the train. This special place connotes different kinds of pieced-out meanings. The purpose of this paper is to look at how the train theme functions in the work of a contemporary writer Vladimir Kantor. The research material consists of two of his works: the story entitled The Safety Brake and the story entitled The Köln – Moscow train. Particularly interesting seems to be a comparison of the train to a grave and its importance in the reflection on the situation, the fate and Russia's development path, as well as the human life of a contemporary intellectual. The train becomes a metaphor of the journey into yourself and exploring your own identity. The story characters: a young boy and a mature man delve into themselves during the journey and learn the truth not only about themselves but also about the world around them.