In Russia, many people had doubts about the possibility of using steam engines in the Russian winter. Nevertheless, the first steam railway was put into service at the Nizhni Tagil metal works. It was a short distance line of only 854 metres long. Another railway was soon constructed in 1837. It was a 15 mile public railway between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo.
The first steam locomotive in Russia was built by the Cherepanovs, father and son, who were talented and skilled workmen of their time. Thanks to the Cherepanovs our country was one of the first countries to use steam as tractive power.
More than a century passed since that time. Many changes took place on railways. Still greater changes will take place in the future. We shall run more powerful locomotives and more comfortable cars. Greater speeds will be achieved by diesel and electric locomotives. Railways will soon be operated by means of electronic computers. A great number of other developments will be introduced.