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National pride

On July 8, 1826 the Russian Ministry of Communications debated the proposal on railways building for the first time and declined it ≈ keeping railways in the North harsh climate was considered economically unprofitable. The idea was criticized in some other countries too, especially by owners of channels and stage╛coaches who were afraid of loosing their monopoly on passengers▓ and cargos▓ transportation.

I ╚We are strongly persuaded that the 30th of October 1837 is a remarkable day not only for Saint Petersburg but for the whole Russia and that the railroads track Saint Petersburg ≈ Tsarskoye Selo will be the first stage in the history of the Russian railways. We are convinced that they will result helpful. All honor to our first railroad!╩ ≈ the newspaper Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti (St. Petersburg News) wrote in 1837.

N. Samokish. Arrival of the First Train to Tsarskoye Selo. October 30, 1837. Oil on canvas. 1904 [zoom (54k)]

In 1834 the famous Austrian engineer Frantz Anton Gerstner, Professor in Vienna Polytechnic Institute, came to Saint Petersburg. He traveled more than 4000 km through Russia and sent a letter to Nicholas I proposing to provide Russia with an extensive railway system.

In 1835 a Russian magazine issued the article entitled ╚Thoughts of a Peasant√Cab Driver on Cast Iron Ways and Steam Locomotives between Saint Petersburg and Moscow╩. The author wrote that railways building would be bad for cabbing business, horse breeding, Ukrainian oat sale and inns▓ business. It was also considered to be bad for servage and scot gathering. The conclusion was the following: ╚The Russian snowstorms won▓t abide these foreign innovations, tracks would be covered with snow and steam power could not be used. Where could one get such a quantity of firewood as to the keep the fire all the way? Or should we spend money to buy coal from abroad instead of spending it for charity needs?╩

The Head of the Russian Ministry of Communications K.F. Tol and the Finance Minister E.F. Kankrin were opposed to railways. However despite their skeptical thoughts on railroads construction Nicolas I wrote at the third Gerstner▓s letter by his own hand: ╚I was reading the letter with great attention and I continue being convinced that this is a helpful business. I am not convinced that Gerstner has found enough capital to begin this huge undertaking. I wish to get written explanations on this subject from him and later I will call him to visit me if necessary. I will allow building the track to Tsarskoye Selo if the plans are presented.╩

Von Gerstner was able to raise sufficient capital for this line, mostly through a few large investors including the Count A.A. Bobrinskii (an enlightened landowner interested in science and technology), Benedict Kramer (director of the Russian American Company), and Johann Plitt (consul of the Free City of Frankfurt am Main). Gerstner himself became an auctioneer too. Money (3 million rubles) was taken up by subscription within six months and six days.

On March 21, 1836 Nicolas I signed ╚Statement on Foundation of the Auctioneers Society to Construct a Railroad from Saint Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo with its Prolongation till Pavlovsk╩. On April 15 the decree on the construction of the track Saint Petersburg ≈ Tsarskoye Selo was manifested.

By the spring of 1836 everything had been prepared for the construction. They began to build embankments in May 9, 1836. All the line was divided into lots given to engineer contractors and crews of 30√40 workers. 17 engineers oversaw the construction (5 of them had already done the same work in England). The construction site was safeguarded by 30 keepers and the same number of soldiers and guards. The total number of workers was up to 1800 in the period of the most intense construction of the embankments. 1400 soldiers from Krasnoselskie Camps joined them in the second half of summer. Their main instruments were shovels, picks, barrows and horse carts.

Gerstner placed orders for locomotives, cars, rails and other miscellaneous equipment choosing the best manufacturers and insisting on high quality. At the same time he was thinking of how to make the new means of transport popular. In order to attract passengers the enterprising engineer decided to make Pavlovsk station a place where pleasure parties and concerts take place. Waterworks were ordered to be put up there and conversations on the manufacturing of ╚a big musical instrument╩ for Pavlovsk station were conducted.

In 1661 a recreative park for fashionable public was organized in the estate of Falkes de Breaute near London. The name Falkes Hall became common for such places. In Russia we began to use this word (Falkes Hall being pronounced Voksal in Russian) to denote a building next to a station.

The road was single-track with the track width of 6 pounds (1820 mm) without any ballast bed and had a slow gradient to Pavlovsk. Locomotives, rails and clamps were bought abroad but some cargo cars, steam machines for water supply, water╛supply lines and road devices were made in Saint Petersburg at Alexandrovskii plant.

Due to a number of circumstances the railway was not opened in the autumn of 1836 but Gerstner decided to demonstrate the line at the appointed date. Horses were used to pull two trains consisting of a char-a-banc (covered wagon for 36 seats) and a carriage (open cart of the same loading space) each. The horses (two for a wagonage) could pull a cargo up to 13 tones covering the distance from Pavlovsk to Tsarskoye Selo in 15 minutes. The first trial was in September 1836. Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzina, the wife of the famous writer, described the action: ╚On Sunday everybody ≈ from court to carls ≈ went to see the trial of steam carriages on the way to Pavlovsk┘ All the four carriages arrived dividing into two wagonages ≈ each consisting of a covered and an open cart. No steam power was used. Each wagonage was pulled by two horses that were harnessed one after another. Each wagonage could hold about one hundred persons. The horses were galloping. The trial was organized to show the comfort and easiness of such a travel mode. It is said that by the middle of October steam locomotives would have been used. It is very interesting.╩. Such drives took place on the three following Sundays and the distance was prolonged to Kuzmino.

On October 4, the English ship ╚Barbara╩ anchored in Kronstandt road. The ship delivered the first locomotive built at an English plant. The locomotive parts were transported by small ships to the Obvobnii bridge in the course of construction and on thereout by horse-drawn carriages to Tsarskoye Selo. The transportation of a boiler with a pedestal that weighed total 8 tones was the most difficult. A special cart with wide wheels was made and 14 horses were harnessed to pull them.

V. G. Perov. At the railway. 1868. Oil on canvas. The State Tretyakov Gallery [zoom (67k)]

It took more than a month to convey the locomotive to Tsarskoye Selo and put it together. On November 6, Friday, at the midday the first steam train left Tsarskoye Selo. A crowd of curious onlookers attended. The railways became very popular among St. Petersburg society. On some Sundays up to a thousand carriages with citizens came to Pavlovsk from St. Petersburg despite the fact that the trip there and back took from 5 to 6 hours and cost 20√30 rubles.

In the end of October 1837 the trials began. Gerstner went along the track of 5.3 kilometers long for 116 times during the first five days of the testing. He recalled: ╚I had to drive the trains myself. I had to turn all my attention to prevent accidents as all the environs, surrounding houses▓ roofs and the way were overcrowded by people who were looking at this unprecedented sight in amazement.╩. On October 3, Gerstner got hurt ≈ he received a strong stroke in the breast ≈ and was able to lead the festive train only in the end of October.

On October 30, 1837 the first eight-car train driven by Gerstner left in the presence of ministers, members of the State Council, members of the diplomatic corps and many other guests and in 35 minutes arrived to Tsarskoye Selo. By the day of the opening of the railway bronze medals had been made to be given to the present but the distribution was prohibited as the tsar did not like their design. On the three following days all comers went to Tsarskoye Selo and back. Then the final works began and the trains started running only on Sundays and holidays.

Soon journeys to Tsarskoye Selo became fashionable amusement of Petersburgers. Common people crowded at Semenovskii ground to see passing trains up close. The opening of the railway turned an unprecedented resonance in the society. Locomotives and cars began being depicted at market baskets, calico shawls, sweet boxes and postal paper sheets. The musical comedy ╚Trip to Tsarskoye Selo╩ was shown at Alexandrinskii Theatre. It was a locomotive who played the main role in the musical comedy.

Gerstner informed auctioneers that English locomotives turned to be quite fair ≈ they ran at a temperature of ≈ 18о С, in a thunderstorm, rain and terrible snowstorm of the 4th of January 1837. Wind removed snow so snow removal workers had almost nothing to do but for carrying the snow away from Tsarskyoe Selo station where the road was almost on level with the ground. Snow was taken in carts.

On January 31, 1838 daily operation of two pairs of horsed trains began for all the weather. Locomotives were used only on Sundays and holidays. Since April 4, 1838 steam power was used exclusively. Locomotives made in England and Belgium had neither series nor numbers and they were given names of ╚Quick╩, ╚Arrow╩, ╚Bogatyr╩, ╚Elephant╩, ╚Lion╩ and ╚Eagle╩ on the first anniversary of the track opening.

In summer the operation of 8 pairs of trains was realized from 7 a. m. till 11 p. m. Passengers were transported not only in cars but in their own carriages that were put on open platforms.

We have a description of the movement of trains in these early years from Tsarskoe Selo to Pavlovsk by Bouryanov. Here is a fragment from it:

╚Now let us go to see the Grand Pavilion, which stands on the railroad front Tsarskoe Selo to Pavlovsk. It is built of wood: its architecture is elegant: it is surrounded with beds of sweet smelling flowers, and with walks covered with red sand. We can find there large halls for walking, well cooked dinner, and a most brilliant company. Why are people gathering here? They wish to go by the ⌠iron■ road in carriages propelled by a steam engine to Pavlovsk.╩

╚In England, America, France and even in Austria, there have been built railroads, which, consist of embankments, covered with sleepers, on which lie very long iron rails, with recesses for the wheels of the carriages, in which the passengers ride. In 1836 F. Gerstner, an Austrian nobleman, built an excellent iron road between Tsarskoe Selo and Pavlovsk, and between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. In course of time, Moscow will be joined to St. Petersburg also by railway. There goes the engine with its chimney, pouring forth smoke. It drags behind it several carriages, which hold more than 300 people, its strength is equal that of 40 horses: in one hour it can run a distance of 30 versts (32.1 km). The engine has a horn attached to it. The conductor blows to caution people to get out of its way. A long row of carriages is attached to the engine: there are immense diligences, there are chars-a-bancs, wide covered carriages with six rows of seats, where five men can sit on each; there are open trucks for the same number; there are vans for all kinds of load, for horses, cows, sheep, calves and poultry; there are vats for ▒different kinds of liquids, refreshments and food. Let us take our seats in one of these carriages. The signal is given. Music plays, smoke belches forth from the chimney of the engine. We catch a glimpse of wooden houses, of rivers, woods, they are left behind...╩

The first train cars were of four types. ╚Berlins╩ (the first class) and ╚diligences╩ (the second class) represented covered carts and were considered the most comfortable. ╚Char-a-bancs╩ were destined for the third class passengers. They had a roof and walls up to the half of the height of a cab. Later they started being called ╚open wagonettes╩. ╚Cars╩ (the fourth class) differed from char-a-bancs in the absence of roofs and buffer spring.

The first class carriage could hold 32 passengers at that it had a separate compartment. The second class car had 30 seats, the third class one ≈ 42. St. Petersburg ≈ Tsarskoye Selo Railway tariffs established in 1838 did not change till the second half of the 1870-ies. The passage in the first class car from the capital to Tsarskoye Selo cost 75 kopecks in silver, in the second class train ≈ 50 kopecks, in the third class one ≈ 35 and in the fourth class one ≈ 20 kopecks.

Railway tickets were made of brass and called ╚tins╩. They were multiply used and the administration did not need to spend money for their reproducing. Since April 1860 ╚tins╩ were changed for paper tickets of different colours: white for the first class cars, rose ≈ for the second class cars and green ≈ for the third class ones.

Smoking in open carts was prohibited since the very first days of the railway operation. The reason was the following: ╚Sparks from cigars repeatedly fell, enlightened clothes and passengers made complaints.╩ The corresponding announcements in four languages were hung in waiting rooms and at platforms. The rule should be kept for fear of strict punishment for its infraction. The chief of Gendarmes A.H. Benkendorf joined the campaign against smokers. He ordered to detrain smokers, write down their surnames and the place of employment and pass the information to the police. In 1857 special smokers cars were put into action.

╚Passenger trains did not stop before they reached Tsarskoye Selo. The silence at the station impressed. Everybody behaved with decorum, there was no turmoil. Tall gendarmes walked about and made away with any riot though the tsar track and station were situated in another place not far from Alexandrovskii Palace. Decorum, silence and discipline were also kept in the town itself. There were a lot of police officers and military men┘ As there were no plants and factories there were almost no working people. One could see court servants, householders, pensioners, civil servants, trustworthy craftsmen and other reliable people. Everything was connected with the court. Public was not allowed to enter Alexandrovskii park when tsar family was there. At the same time entrance to the other parks ≈ Ekaterininskii and Babolovskii ≈ was free. Petersburgers came to walk about in the parks, boat and go sightseeing. The town was dull and there was no excitement even in the parks. In summer promenades were organized at hardstand in "tsar days" ≈ traveling shows, lotteries, amusements┘╩ (D.A. Zasosov, V.I. Pizin ╚From the life of Saint Petersburg in 1890√1910╩).

The operation up to Pavlovsk having begun, amusements at Pavlovsk station started: German▓s music orchestra played daily, Gypsies sang from time to time and fireworks were played off.

╚Besides summer residents and regular inhabitants many Petersburgers came to Pavlovsk in the evenings to listen to the music. The main Pavlovsk magnet was its station with a concert hall and a wonderful park. Trains often ran in the evening. A train came to a platform with a concert hall with glass doors next to it.╩ (D.A. Zasosov, V.I. Pizin ╚From the life of Saint Petersburg in 1890√1910╩).

In 1844 German was changed by the bandmaster Joseph Gungl and in 1856 he was in turn changed by Johann Strauss.

E.P. Sudkovskaya, N.S. Samokish. Dance in Honour of the 25 Anniversary of Tsarskoselskaya railway. 1904. Oil on canvas [zoom (46k)]

╚Railway for me is a fascination, magic enjoyment. Yesterday journey to Pavlovsk Voksal that was first opened for public that day was especially nice. I wish you were with us. Imagine a huge semicircular building with open galleries, wonderful halls and many separate comfort and calm rooms. Meal in Voksal is very good. And in the nearest future numerous improvements are promised therein. There are a lot of good servants. The excellent hall constructed to a design of the architect Andrey Shtackenschneyder (the Pavlovsk station was also built to his design) is decorated by many tetrahedral columns, vast choirs and a rather fanciful fountain and set out with tables. There are two luxury bars. There are two billiard halls to the right and halls for those who would like to have dinner in an offset distance from other visitors to the left. Music is heard from the choirs and Tyrolean songs ≈ from below╩ (from the letter of N.V. Kukolnik to M.I. Glinka, 1838).

At first there were no signals at the railway except for locomotive whistle. Order and safety of train operation were regulated only by the timetable and time of their running. Locomotive drivers and fare collectors were given regular watches for that purpose. In 1838 optical telegraph was put up to be used for stations▓ intercommunication.

The constant timetable for five pairs of trains was established in May 15, 1838. The trains left from St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo at the same time and met at Moskovskoye Shosse station. Conflicting departure from terminations was prohibited after a head-on collision happened on the night on the 11th\12th of August 1840. Besides, the head of the railway the engineer Peters ordered to place several cars with straw mattresses between locomotive and cars to calm the public ≈ in case of head-on collision they would take the edge of the stroke.

In the summer of 1876 the second track was opened for operation. It boosted the safety and crossing capacity of the railway. A wooden engine house for service and repair of rolling equipment was built in St. Petersburg. Primarily it was situated near the station in Vvedenskii channel embankment and in the end of the 1840-ies it was moved outside Obvodnii channel because the station was getting larger.

In 1842 a new church of Vvedeniye built to a design of the architect K.A. Ton was dedicated and the old wooden church was taken down. In 1851 a two-storey station building to a design of K.A. Ton was built just there.

In 1899 Tsarskoselskaya railway was bought by the rich joint-stock company of Moscow√Vindavo√Ribinsk railway. The railroad was prolonged till Odessa and Vitebskii station in modern art style was built in Zagorodnii prospect.