Articles about the railroad. Interesting facts about Russian railways

Railways in Russia transport 1 billion 300 million passengers every year. On average, each of us is a train passenger 9 times a year, but this is a very small figure. In Soviet times, this figure reached 15 times a year.

The Trans-Siberian Railway is considered the longest in the world. Its length is almost 9,300 kilometers.

Station "Half" is the very middle of the Trans-Siberian. From this station the same distance, both to Moscow and to Vladivostok.

After the opening of the first railway in Russia (between Moscow and St. Petersburg), the first three days the journey was free. Because no one wanted to ride this "terrible thing."

France still has a law that bans kissing at train stations. The reason for the ban was delays in the departure of trains. The law was issued 100 years ago and still no one has repealed it.

It turns out that linemen who tap the wheels of trains have an ideal ear for music. By changing the tone, they should determine the malfunction of the wheel.

On a train that runs in western Peru, conductors offer passengers an oxygen bag. Because the train goes along the highest mountain railway in the world (at an altitude of more than 3 kilometers).

Once upon a railroad in the state of Ohio (USA) there was a collision of a train with a steamer. The fact is that Lake Ohio overflowed its banks, and the railway track was under a meter layer of water. However, the driver decided to take the train along the flooded track, but collided with the steamer.

The head of the Bavarian railways in 1910 was forced to issue an order forbidding machinists and stokers to buy beer during stops at stations.

In Argentina, you can now take a tour on the legendary Patagonia Express train, which was restored specifically for tourists. In addition to the impressions of the surrounding landscapes, passengers can become participants in the carefully planned "Train Robbery" action without their consent.

A few years ago, a special "train of love" began to run between Paris and Venice. In the compartment of such a train: VIP-service, there is a TV, a shower cabin and a special double shelf.

Once, a train set off on a tour of Switzerland, on which the cream of Swiss society rode: ministers, deputies, honorary citizens, etc. On the occasion of the celebration, the train was made up of only dining cars. But the organizers did not take into account a small nuance: there are no toilets in Swiss dining cars. Therefore, when the train approached the station, those who had gathered to meet him locals, were very surprised: the guests of honor poured out of the doors of the cars like peas.

As you know, some trains have their own name. For example, "Red Arrow", "Russia", "Baikal", etc. Often the names of the trains are given by the passengers themselves: for example, the Rostov-Odessa train is affectionately called by the passengers "Papa - Mama"

The Japanese firm Toshiba built a maglev train. The train is capable of speeds of 517 km/h.

Once a group of German engineers surveyed the Isthmus of Panama in order to build a trans-American railroad. And in the end, she decided that the rails here should be made not from iron, which is rare in these places, but ... from gold.

Third class carriages on the first Russian railways followed in front of the train and were equipped with hard benches. But passengers were more likely to ride under the benches. Because these cars did not have a roof, and passengers were hiding from bad weather and sparks.

In Australia, a railway was laid on the desert plain, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It is famous for the fact that over 500 km there is not a single turn on it.

Among the collection of Faberge there is an egg "Trans-Siberian Railway", which contains a clockwork model of the imperial Trans-Siberian train made of gold and platinum.

In the near future, two-tiered passenger cars. Such cars will be much more economical for the railway and much more comfortable for passengers. Each compartment of such a carriage has a shower, toilet and air conditioning.

In Monte Carlo, you can see people meeting trains in anticipation of those who have arrived in the Principality for the first time. After that, passengers are offered money to play, promising a share of the winnings in return. It's all the fault of the sign that newcomers are lucky.

But at the Shibuya station in Japan there is a monument to a dog with a "station master's cap" on his head. The dog was awarded this honor for its feat, for 10 years it met the owner who left by train.

When the first section of the railway between Liverpool and Manchester was built in England, they decided to arrange a kind of competition between five steam locomotives. However, just before the start of the competition, the fifth car was suspended from participation in them "due to an outdated engine." Under the steel sheathing there were hidden ordinary horses.

The longest freight train in the world ran in the Soviet Union on the route Ekibastuz - Ural. The train, 6.5 kilometers long, transported 42,000 tons of coal in 440 wagons.

In the early 90s. such a scam was known: an African was promised emigration to Europe, they took the agreed amount, brought it to Moscow (then it was simple and cheap). And then this African was put on a train, assuring that it was a train to Germany. But in fact, it was a subway train that moved along a circular route. The poor fellow could go for a very long time.

The machinist of the Ahvaz-Tehran train once deserved a severe punishment. His fault was that he did not stop the train during namaz (prayer). Because of this, the passengers were forced to pray in the compartment, moreover, at every turn of the train they had to spin in place.

Experts advise, for security reasons, to give preference to the central carriages when buying tickets. In the event of an accident, they suffer less than the head or tail ones. And also it is better to choose seats against the movement of the train. By the way, according to statistics, trains are 45 times safer than cars.

The maximum speed on the rail track is fixed at around 9851 km/h! It was this speed that was developed during the experiment by a platform with rocket engine in New Mexico (USA)

The first train was free

The opening of the railway communication Moscow - St. Petersburg was a real event. That's just the common people were in no hurry to use the innovation. A terrible rumbling thing caused genuine fear. In order to promote rail transport to the masses, it was decided to make travel free. And this measure had an effect. Trains very soon ceased to be afraid.

The only pity is that free pass from Moscow to St. Petersburg remained in the distant past. The history of the action was short. It was possible to ride back and forth for free only in the first three days after the opening of the corresponding railway line.

The Magic of Numbers

The first trains in Russia and Europe were available to about 9% of the population of those cities between which rail links were being established. Today (on average, of course) every Russian travels by rail about 9 times a year. And the total number of passengers has long exceeded 1.3 billion people a year.

Notable Transsib

Among domestic railways, the most remarkable was and remains the Trans-Siberian Railway. She has many statuses. For example, this railway is known as the longest in the world. The Trans-Siberian is 9438 kilometers, more than 8 days on the road. On the route, the train stops at 97 major stations and passes through many smaller ones.

And on the Trans-Siberian there is half the way. The station, located exactly in the middle of the railway between Moscow and Vladivostok, is called so. The distance from the "Half" to both cities is the same. The Trans-Siberian is also considered the coldest railway. Part of it goes through climate zone, where -62˚С is the usual temperature. A noteworthy fact: the coldest point of the route does not coincide with the northernmost.

The evolution of speed

The first passenger train in the world went on rails at a speed barely reaching the mark of 33 km/h. A little later, it was already possible to accelerate to 38 and even 42 kilometers per hour. Modern high speed trains they drive along the railroad at a speed of 320-430 km / h. And experimental innovative compositions are capable of accelerating to 603 km / h. And this, as scientists and engineers say, is far from the limit.

Freight trains also set records

The first freight railway in Russia was only 2 kilometers long. This miracle of science and technology of its time was put into action - what would you think? Horse traction!

The longest freight trains in the history of the railway traveled to different parts of the world. One transported coal (no less - 42,000 tons per flight) to Uraliz Ekibastuz back in the era of the USSR. The train consisted of 440 cars. Their total length exceeded 6.5 kilometers.

The record was broken in South Africa. Here, a train of 660 wagons entered the route. Their total length was 7.3 km. But the experiment, unlike the Soviet one, had no practical meaning. The canvas could not withstand the load, and the railway had to be closed for a long time for repairs.

Safety first

Are you afraid to ride the train? Perhaps the following fact will help you change your attitude towards this transport. Traveling by rail is 45 times safer than traveling by road. The risk of getting into an accident in a train is much lower than in a car.

Do you want maximum security guarantees? Choose a carrier TKS. Their location in the composition and modern technical equipment ensure safety and comfort during the trip.

Such a familiar thing for us is the railway! One of the most reliable and affordable and loved by many modes of transport. Bought a train ticket, came to the station. Now no one remembers that when the railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow was opened, travel was made free for the first three days precisely because everyone was afraid of this “terrible thing”.

On average, each of us 9 times a year becomes a passenger of the railway. The average number of Russian Railways passengers per year is 1 billion 300 million.

The most notable railway is the Trans-Siberian Railway. It is the longest in the world. From Moscow to Nakhodka - 9438 km and 97 major stations. The Rossiya branded train runs along this route, which is on the road for 8 days 4 hours and 25 minutes.

The very middle of the Trans-Siberian Railway is called the station Polovina. It is the same distance from Moscow and Vladivostok.

The coldest section of the Trans-Siberian Railway is located between the Mogocha and Skovorodino stations. The temperature here reaches -62 degrees. Although geographically it is not the most north point highways.

And the most high point, where the rails of the Trans-Siberian Railway are laid, lies at an altitude of 1040 m, between the stations Turgutui and Yablonovaya. This is 6110 km, Yablonovy Pass.

The longest freight train was 6.5 km long, consisted of 440 wagons and regularly transported 42,000 tons of coal from Ekibastuz to the Urals back in Soviet times. On the other side of the world, in South Africa, another record was set in 1989: a 7.3 km long train consisting of 660 wagons. True, the experiment was not repeated again. The wheel didn't last.

The first railway in Russia was a freight one, 2 km long. They built it in the Urals, at the Kolyvanovsky plant, and it worked on horse-drawn traction. The first passenger road was Tsarskoselskaya, known to everyone.

The speed of the first passenger trains in the 19th century it was 33 km/h. And the railway workers at that time were a kind of elite: they were treated, for example, in the early 20th century to aviators, or in the 60s to astronauts. Modern trains can develop up to 580 km / h.

The requirements for hiring linemen have not changed during this time: they must have a good ear for music, because they determine the malfunction of the wheel by changing the tone when it is tapped.

According to statistics, the railway is 45 times safer than a car. For those who are still worried, experts advise choosing cars in the middle of the train, and in seated cars- buy a train ticket for seats against traffic.

lovers thrill invited to Argentina. The legendary Patagonia Express train, specially restored for tourists, runs there. In addition to vivid impressions of local landscapes, you can suddenly find yourself a participant in an action called “Train Robbery” :)

IN South America many surprises. For example, German engineers who surveyed the Isthmus of Panama for the construction of the Trans-American Railway said that it was unprofitable to make rails from local iron. Gold is the more affordable metal here...

For all mankind, trains have already become more than a familiar mode of transport. However, the world of wagons and railroad tracks is not at all simple. In this article, we will talk about some interesting facts related to this vehicle: from historical to funny.

The railway connects cities, countries, and sometimes entire parts of the world! Such a road is the Trans-Siberian Railway. Its length is about 9300 km.
The collection of Faberge eggs also has a copy depicting the Trans-Siberian Railway. A clockwork model is placed in the egg imperial train made of gold and platinum.

As in Bologoye, where, according to legend, the St. Petersburg curb turns into the Moscow curb, the Trans-Siberian Railway has its own middle - this is the Polovina station. Historically, the Trans-Siberian Railway ran from Vladivostok to Miass, and the "Half" divided this path in half.
First railway line was the road between Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the year of the death of Nicholas I, during which construction began, it was named Nikolaevskaya. For the first three days, the trip along the Nikolaev railway was free, since no one wanted to ride on an unfamiliar "terrible thing."
The first train in our country with a refrigeration unit was designed and built specifically for transporting fresh oysters from Sevastopol to the royal table.
In France, for a hundred years now, there has been a law prohibiting kissing at train stations. The reason for this rule was frequent delays trains because of the touching farewells of passengers and mourners.

In Russia, so far they are limited to simple warnings - at one of the airports you can see a poster with the words: “We ask passengers to start kissing right now so that the plane takes off on time.”

Do you know what the similarities between a violinist and a lineman are? They both need absolute pitch. A railroad worker needs it in order to determine the presence of malfunctions in the wheels. But many thought that any person could cope with this work - go and knock at your pleasure.
In our relatively flat country, there is no problem with the construction of high mountain roads. But in Peru, the paths pass high in the mountains - at an altitude of 3 km from sea level. Passengers on this section are offered oxygen bags.

All branded trains in Russia they have their own name written on the side of the carriage. But some trains also have names given to them by passengers. Such, for example, is the Rostov-Odessa train. He was nicknamed "Papa - Mama."
The Australian Railway, passing through the desert plain, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. On its section of 500 km there is not a single turn.
A monument to a dog that has been waiting for the return of its owner who left by train for nine years stands at Shibuya Station in Japan. This story has become the most famous illustration of canine devotion and loyalty.
On the first section of the road built between Liverpool and Manchester, the British decided to hold a competition between five locomotives. However, immediately before the race, the fifth participant was suspended from the competition with the wording "due to an outdated engine." Real horses were hidden under the skin of the locomotive.
The Ahvaz-Tehran train driver was severely punished for moving during namaz (prayer). The fact is that during the ceremony, a Muslim must be turned strictly towards Mecca, and at each turn of the train, passengers had to spin in place.
Safety experts advise buying tickets for seating in the center and avoiding the first and last carriages in case of an accident. In general, the safety of a train is estimated to be 45 times higher than that of a car.
It is said that once there was a case of collision completely different types transport - trains and boats. Lake Ohio in the United States burst its banks and flooded the railroad tracks with a meter layer of water. The driver decided to continue along the flooded track, but collided with the steamer. Obviously, neither life nor education prepared these drivers for such a turn.

People have always been fascinated by trains. And some of them gave rise to creativity. The Lumière brothers chose a steam locomotive as the subject of their first film. As we remember, the film was called "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station" and plunged the audience into horror with its realism.

: the history of the appearance of the first locomotive and the first railways. The most unusual railway stations and railway communications. "Station" laws of France and a monument to a dog on Shibui.

The first trains, which are trolleys moving with the help of horses, arose back in the 17th century.. In Europe. The first steam locomotive in history, pushing cars, was built by the English inventor Richard Trevithick. It happened in 1801. The purpose of such transport was the transportation of iron ore at the Pen-and-Darren plant, and the speed of its movement was 8 kilometers per hour.
The movement on the first railway in the world was opened in England in the first half of the 19th century.. The final stops of the train route were located in the cities of Stockton and Darlington, and the road itself was intended to transport both goods and passengers. The length of such a section was 50 km, and the train consisted of only 6 cars.
The first competition of the American steam locomotive Tom Thumb (translated as "Boy with a finger") with a horse-drawn carriage took place in September 1830. The action took place along the railroad track from the village of Reilly Tavern to the city of Baltimore. A mechanical failure of the transport itself and a malfunction in the operation of the boiler decided the fate of the competition. The victory was won by the animal, and "Thumb boy" did not reach the finish line.
What can be in common between professional musicians and linemen? It turns out that he has an exceptional ear for music. It is the sensitive hearing of the latter that makes it possible to detect wheel defects in time by changes in the tone of the knock.
At the beginning of the XX century. France passed a law prohibiting couples from kissing on the territory railway stations. The reason for this was the frequent failures in the train schedule, caused by long, "passionate" goodbyes. This rule still applies today. Warning signs are placed everywhere, and separate zones are allocated for farewells of lovers.
The Ferrocaril Austral Fueguino (Argentina) railway is called the train to the very ends of the earth. It is the state's narrowest gauge railway (gauge is 50 cm). On the trajectory of the train is a station called "End of the World", which is incredibly popular among those who want to get to final stop it is on the "iron horse", and not on a cheaper bus. Interestingly, this road was originally intended to transport prisoners to corrective labor.
The monument to Hachiko, dedicated to the faithful and devoted dog, is located on the territory railway station Shibuya (Japan). The animal became famous throughout the country in the 30s. XX century, after the publication in one of the largest newspapers of an article about an old dog waiting daily at the station for its owner, who died a few years ago. At the opening of the monument, a year before his death, Hachiko was present in person.
Take a trip between romantic cities world - Venice and Paris can be on the "train of love".
One food market settlements Thailand is located right on the railway tracks. Several times a day, 10-15 minutes before the approach of the transport, traders pack their food and lower the awnings. After the trains have passed, the market fully resumes its work.
Passengers arriving in Monte Carlo for the first time by train are often met by locals. Strangers offer beginners to play instead of them in a casino, while promising a solid reward.
The smoothest railway, without a single turn, is in Australia. Its length is 500 km.
The fare for The Eastern & Oriental Express, which runs along South-East Asia, is 3000-9000 USD. The train includes several dining cars decorated in different styles, library, shop, bar, and on its back platform there is a magnificent observation terrace.
A three-kilometer section of the railway, located near the village of Klevan (Ukraine), is called the "Tunnel of Love".
At the end of the XIX century. the locomotive became the protagonist of the Lumiere brothers film. Today, dozens of films have been shot about trains, among the most famous are “Runaway Train”, “Magistral”, “Station for Two”, etc.
Although a train is considered several dozen times safer than a car, it is advisable to give preference to seating in the center cars when buying tickets.