How do Soyuz crews board the craft before launch?

[zombiphylax]

I've been looking recently, and I can't find anything about crew boarding for Russian spacecraft. I know they put the orbiter in a protecting fairing, mount it to the Soyuz launch system, and the roll the assembled ship to the launch site via rail road, but I'm not seeing how men board the craft once it's on site.

[Johno]

The rocket is transported to the Launch pad by train, then raised into vertical position. The crew then arrive by bus and board the rocket with the aid of a lift. You can view footage of the procedure here:

[Nibb31]

There is a hatch in the fairing, and another hatch in the side of the orbital module. They ingress through the OM and go down into the DM where they sit for launch. There is no side hatch on the DM. After landing they egress through the top hatch of the DM that was connected to the OM (which is why you usually see the DM sitting on its side after landing).

Apollo and Orion also have an external hatch through the protective cover that covers the command module during launch and is jettisoned with the launch tower.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Nibb31

[zombiphylax]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you guys.

[OdinYggd]

Apollo and Orion also have an external hatch through the protective cover that covers the command module during launch and is jettisoned with the launch tower.

Just in case of a capsule fire, as a number of early craft experienced including at least one that burned up on the test stand without leaving the ground.

If a Soyuz capsule catches fire, there is absolutely nothing the crew can do about it.