The Trans-Siberian Railway is an amazing railway with the longest length in the whole world. It originates in the European part of Russia and stretches through the most beautiful nature to the Far East. Looking at this beautiful construction of human hands, one involuntarily wants to ask how it appeared and how much time it took to build this "railway wonder of the world"?
Construction history
Quite a lot of time was spent on the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The history and development prospects of this amazing highway have become part of Russia's culture. The road was built for fifteen years. From the very moment Captain Nevelsky raised the Russian flag at the mouth of the Amur River, everyone had the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway on their lips.
The development prospects were overwhelming. It was simply necessary in order to unite the vast expanses of Russia. In the nineteenth century, this process was accelerated by merchants when they began to ask the emperor about it. The year 1886 was significant: Alexander III issued a decree, and the long-awaited construction work began.
The first ringing of a pickaxe was heard in the Miass area. They say that it was the Urals that should have become the mother of this railway.
Emperor's initiative
The beginning was laid in a rather solemn manner - Tsarevich Nikolay poured a handful of earth onto a fresh railway track. It is the thirty-first of March that is considered the official date of the first works. Already at that time, the need for transport services increased unusually.
There were hundreds of kilometers between the new Russian lands and Moscow, and the population in the Urals increased to three million. The government realized that for the full development of transport links, a large-scale railway line was simply necessary.
Great hopes for the railway
Prospects for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway were quite extensive. Having taken up this, Alexander III pursued not only an economic goal. His strategy he wanted to achieve a quick transfer of troops to the Pacific Ocean. But this was not the only unspoken goal.
With the advent of the canvas, the country's economic position would be significantly strengthened. Russia was able to strengthen its influence on Mongolia and China. Everything was moving at a good pace: by 1886 the road had already reached Ufa, and after another three years - Zlatoust. But unfortunately, not everything was as smooth as we would like.
Problems and doubts
If at first the route ran through a relatively flat steppe, now swamps, mountains and giant piles of stones have begun. The situation was disappointing, however, this did not frighten the emperor. He was adamant and did not succumb to any persuasion, the decision was made - the road would be.
Fortunately, he was greatly supported by the Chief Minister of Finance, who was firm and unshakable in the belief that the prospects for the development of the Trans-Siberian Railway would more than pay for their hopes.
Railroad construction problems
Construction has already gained momentum and in 1891 the first rails were ferried on a steamer called Petersburg. But this was not the only burden … Fifty convicts and engineers were brought to Vladivostok. It was they who were destined to become the first builders in a grandiose project. Many suspect that some disappointing facts from the history of construction were hidden. The work was carried out in the most difficult conditions, in addition, the canvas was built both east and west.
The severe and merciless weather of many incapacitated and significantly slowed down the robot. It was an incredibly hard work, not everyone withstood it … The acute shortage of funds, namely, money for construction, significantly aggravated the situation.
The whole problem was that initially three hundred and fifty million rubles were allocated for the construction, but after a few months it became clear that the costs would be much more substantial. No one believed that for such money any prospects for the development of the Trans-Siberian Railway could be possible. Briefly, austerity began: embankments were reduced, sleepers were shortened, wooden bridges were built, which in itself was very risky.
This state of affairs could not but affect the number of stations - they became exactly two times less than originally planned. This was a real description of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The development prospects were bright, however, it soon became clear that serious problems would arise.
Description of work
And of course, there were some problems with the workforce. About a hundred thousand people were at the construction site during the work process all the time. Among them were both locals and visitors.
They all wanted to eat, drink, they had to dress in something. They carried heavy tools from afar. The highway was completely laid by hand. Journalists who arrived at the site were shocked by what they saw: standing waist-deep in the wet snow, people were chopping the dense Taiga for days on end. They sixteen hours a day in light clothing and straw bast shoes uprooted the roots and stumps.
Trans-Siberian Railway: plans for the future
In general, over twenty-five years, thousands of people have put not only their health, but also life on the construction of this eighth wonder of the world. Having knocked down financial results, the authorities announced the railway budget - one and a half million gold rubles. In the near future, its restoration is planned, which, according to many, will have a significant impact on the state budget.
The completion of the construction was the construction of a bridge in the Khabarovsk region. It was built over the Amur River. Who would have thought that the Trans-Siberian Railway would still exist. Development prospects and ways to improve the efficiency of the railway are actively considered to this day. She had so many enemies and opponents who sincerely did not understand why to invest so much public funds in such an allegedly dubious project, however, it still exists and will be substantially reconstructed in the near future.
