The Largest Megaproject in History

The Trans-Siberian railway, at least to me, has always been an enigmatic topic in the sphere of Russian history. It's very famous today, but I have seen virtually no coverage of its origins and history outside of a Wikipedia article or two. Needless to say, Wikipedia isn't exactly a very thorough or extensive source.
Considering its cultural clout and fame, I thought that this was a particularly sorry state of affairs and that it deserved a bit more of the limelight. Well, here's that limelight. This video covers the political origins of the Trans-Siberian railway, the rise of the man most commonly associated with it (Sergei Witte), and the construction process. It is nowhere near exhaustive, I basically had to cut 800 words from the final script because it was getting too unwieldy - but nonetheless, I hope you enjoy.
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Chapters:
0:00 The Iron Road
1:17 Origins of the Railway
5:41 Sergei Witte Takes the Reins
9:23 The Construction & Logistics
12:21 The Working Conditions
15:01 Completing the Railway
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Sources, Script and Notes Available here: www.dropbox.com/s/mjt10oodeme...
The Uncut Script (which hasn't been refined so don't expect a particularly polished read): www.dropbox.com/s/5v984g3vzgx...
Twitter: / yt_imper1al
The visuals or audio herein may not be utilised to train a machine learning algorithm of any kind without express permission of the Copyright holder (IMPERIAL)

[@IMPERIALYT]

Hey all, as usual all sources are in the description and on this pinned comment - as a bonus, there's also the uncut initial script of this video which has a bit more information if you'd like to take more of a dive into the topic. Sources: www.dropbox.com/s/mjt10oodeme31xs/Trans-Siberian%20Video%20Final.docx?dl=0

[@dominicthorpe2300]

iz itt lung?

[@quentinblake485]

Where did you get the map of Russia like that, where it shows mountains and topography at the start of the video ?😊

[@IMPERIALYT]

@@quentinblake485 It's a plane with a displacement map applied to it, I got the height data from tangrams.github.io/heightmapper/

[@eucaliptusx]

Hello! The video is awesome, however, I want to point, that overall tone, along with the ending has somewhat of an ideological subtext… Some of the key highlights, that I’ve seen: 1) Alexander the Third didn’t just enforce strict control because “tsar bad”. That’s because his father, Alexander the Liberator, was brutally assassinated, just several years after the reformations. Alexander the Third had plenty of reasons to be cautious about the government’s ability to control the state. 2) Witte wasn’t just the Machiavellian figure, who somehow manoeuvred himself into higher positions: the guy was the one of the most educated among the elites, his other policies were really successful, and he is remembered like the one of the most effective policy makers in Russian history. The crash of the royal train happened, because the train (26 wagons with 2 locomotives) did not suit the railways. Also it was going almost 45 mph, for royal family to be on time. Witte was really not in charge. 3) the state approach towards the construction of the line was selected not to show, that private projects are inferior: this was due to the absence of private railroad projects of this size. There was a task, totally impossible for all the Russian railroad investors, the cost was too high

[@niclash]

@@IMPERIALYT Good video. But one thing struck me; Infrastructure typically needs maintenance which often comes at high cost in the long-run, often in multiples every 15 years. It would have been cool if you had some information about the cost of the TSR over the 100+ years it has existed...

[@ult_vain]

I swear bro, it’s been like one second in and I’m already here wondering why you don’t have a million subscribers

[@MintyLime703]

People can't subscribe to a channel they don't know about

[@xavierblitz5647]

channel is too new

[@sennavanleeuwen8564]

That’s because the difference is quality between these kind of creators are slim

[@deeptisinha4709]

Agreed

[@lds7175]

You’re a truzzo

[@fedecano7362]

I was aboard the Trans-Siberian, Moscow to Beijing, during the winter of 2011. This was part of a bigger trip that I did that year where I went from Poland to Vietnam by train. Definetly cruising through Siberia was the highlight of trip. Watching the snow blanketed dachas fuming through their lil chimneys and then the frozen and limitless expanse of Russia itself. We also crossed a big desert, wich I think it was the western tip of the Gobi desert, and it was a pretty cool contrast after days of only white. The best view though was watching the sun rise over a complety icy "Lake Baikal" chef kiss Anyway, let me tell you was felt pretty special to me; the most fascinating part about riding aboard the Trans-Siberian is watching the people, day by day, while you go to the east, as their facial factions turn progressively more Asian. It's subtle, but totally noticeable. Every day (remember it's a 7 day trip) you get to see the changes , untill you reach China of course. That's something you would never experience, or even think about it, on a 10 hour flight from Moscow to Beijing. The train was almost empty and I made some good friends aboard,, ohh men good times! The arrival to Beijing Central station was quite the schock ! First time in China for me and you are right in the middle of the city. Feel freee to ask any question .. I like reminiscing about it!

[@shianeruu4359]

How long did it took for you to reach Beijing?

[@fedecano7362]

@@shianeruu4359 hey, it was 7 nights aboard but there are longer routes that could possibly take longer!

[@krollpeter]

Is it possible to hop on off the train, if you want to stay somewhere for a few days?

[@fedecano7362]

@@krollpeter yeah it is. You can either buy a ticket that will get you on board a direct train from Moscow to Beijing, or you can just take local train and hop from city to city and then adapt the route to your schedule, free time, hype to explore Siberia kinda thing. For me time was a important and I was more focused on arriving to Asia, the Transiberian was an exotic way to get there. but If I would do it again I would definetly stop a few nights in every stop and take a look at the surronding areas.

[@RANDOMPOLAND85]

@@fedecano7362 thx from Poland man I wish get visa and visit Rusia one day soon

[@josezuniga4814]

It's unreal how good your editing and presentation skills are, the animations feel practically artistic

[@user-ei7bk1tq1w]

Hello from Siberia! I am very glad that someone made a video about my Motherland. I didn't expect the English video to be the first on KZbin covering this topic though there is no Russian video covering the Trans-Siberian Railway theme as good as this one! Thanks for your job! As a student who studies History I should say that the video is very accurate and intersting even for me. I want add that during soviet period there was BAM built in the area. It goes across China's border. USSR needed to build it due to the high-risk escalation with CPR that would lead to Vladivostok and Khabarovsk cut off from mainland. Also, one of the key reasons for the start of the Russo-Japanese War was that the Russian Empire wanted to control Manchuria with its railway, but Japan was to conquer it first. Russo-Japanese war led to First Russian revolution and the strengthening of communist and socialst movements in Russia. Paradoxically - the project, which was designed to unite the country, led to a revolution and further dissociation!

[@konradvonschnitzeldorf6506]

You would think Russia was big enough to the elites at some point.

[@free_at_last8141]

When you say that you are from Siberia, what does that mean? I mean, would you say that there is a Siberian Nationality mindset? If so, what territory would you say that encompasses? In Afghanistan for example, I found that most people referred to themselves as Pashtuns as opposed to calling themselves "Afghans" or "Pakistanis."

[@user-ei7bk1tq1w]

@@free_at_last8141 Well, due to some kind of political instability, when at first religion was the fundamental basis of your identity, then "Soviet people" came, and now - "multinational Russian people." I think people don't like all these changes in national identity and they just tend to choose geographic ones. Russians do not like to call themselves Russians, they prefer to assosiate themselves with the area or family heritage like "Siberian", "Northern", "Cossack", "Muscovite" and so on. I am Russian, but more often I call myself a Siberian. this is my mindset. There are many non-Russian nationalities in the country, they are prone to national identification such as "Tatar", "Yakut", "Dagestan" in other words based on language or their Republic.

[@Based_Alex]

@@free_at_last8141 this means that he is from Siberia, from a geographical region. There is no "Siberian mentality", in Russia people are almost all the same

[@vanek2469]

@@free_at_last8141 people call themselves Siberian if they live in the Asian part of Russia, but mostly people still call themselves Russians or some other nationality

[@iamneophyte]

What a beautiful, beautiful video. The script, pacing, narration, visual style, and artful craft are all superb, and worth of a content creator magnitudes larger in channel size. you are, in my mind, one of the most underrated creators on the platform. thank you for your videos.

[@tf2scoutpunch175]

I love cp

[@abitoftruth8670]

yep, but half of that video just good NATO propaganda,

[@surinderpal7323]

@@abitoftruth8670 How so?

[@MrVlad12340]

Its was not "unproductive", after all production is not measured merely by resources, connecting Far East with the Western Russia allowed for people to freely move through the whole country , which in itself increased productivity and mobility of the nation.

[@benismann]

Enabling ppl to live and goods to flow sounds quite productive to me. Especially since the railway in question runs through the south, which is not that bad climatewise

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

​@@benismannis still Siberia -40°c in train is normal😂

[@yusokrazee]

Except it didn't. Siberia is still an uninhabitable wasteland. So...unproductive, then.

[@MrVlad12340]

@@yusokrazee depends on what you consider as a wasteland. It has vastly more cities than it had before the rail was build.

[@magillakilla9517]

Actually it was build because Russia has one of the biggest wheat growing regions in the world and previously they couldn’t export that wheat bc transportation cost too high. Before they could only export wheat grow in the Baltic’s

[@Semkay1358]

And don't forget that the railway isn't the only thing that were built as a part of this project. Entire city of Novonikolaevsk (now it's called Novosibirsk) was built just to provide railway bridge with necessary supplies and workers.

[@gelasson]

I don't know if it was meant as an easter egg, but the "accountant" guy we see at 04:06 is one of the lesser known but one of the greatest russian writers of all times - Dmitry Merezhkovsky. A truly deep thinker who deserved to take the Nobel Prize in literarature all ten times he'd been nominated... But that once again proves the Nobel committee missed more talents than it aknowledged

[@thedevilneveraskstwice7027]

Nope, you just undecuated. I know Its hard for you low IQ people for whom noone provided proper education but, please, just try and imagine a situation, in which neutral Sweden nobel-prizes a rustard emigree which was not exactly liked by totalitarian rustard regime which was governing back then... Literally basic geopolitics. Plus history, of course. You literally just pointed out to how politicized those prizes were, without even knowing It... Hilarious :D

[@kirillslepnev1650]

it says it's Sergei Belyaev.

[@gelasson]

@@kirillslepnev1650 It does. Your point being?

[@kirillslepnev1650]

@@gelasson nah I'm just saying what it says near the pic. Apparently you're right, because I checked that person's bio and photos it is indeed him. Meaning that the author is mistaken.

[@evangeleonmusa4322]

1q.

[@grantmccoy6739]

It seems pretty reasonable to me to build a railway connecting the east and west. It's good for travel, but also, logistics. Whenever people go into the frontier without any established support, it's difficult. I think it's easy to say it was about control or whatever, but it's really just about utilizing technology for all of the practical applications. I bet it's a really interesting route. It's very iconic and famous. I'm glad you made comparisons to the Panama canal, and showed the pictures of it's construction. It's a really fascinating project as well. Possibly more ambitious too honestly. But the railway is still really cool.

[@SVDP270]

Офигеть. Я сначала думал, что это канал иметь более миллиона подписчиков. А оказывается меньше 30 тысяч. Желаю тебе удачи, с продвижением канала :)

[@spectacles-dm]

How did I miss this coming out?? WOW! What an astonishing video, as usual. Witte is one fascinating figure indeed.

[@mayakstudios7292]

I live a 10-minute walk from the Trans-Siberian Railway, trains just run every five minutes, I like to watch them

[@MatveyTsivinyuk]

I wouldn't say that the railway was mostly an ambitious autocratic megaproject. It actually had a great economical impact later.

[@Levon_RnD]

Yeah, it's way too much western tv for the creator of the vid, I guess. The material is pretty decent overall but anti russian sentiment shows. The railroad is literally the only reliable road connecting Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Vladivostok with Moscow and with each other. It's sure not empty ambitions, it's vital for the region otherwise isolated in the middle of nowhere.

[@survivingworldsteam]

@@Levon_RnD especially during WWII. The Trans-Siberian Railway made it possible to literally move whole tank factories and other factories out the German's reach in Siberia and transport the finished tanks and equipment back west. It would have much more difficult for the Soviet Union to fight the war without it, especially once Russia declared war on Japan.

[@joeyjojojrshabadoo7462]

On the subject Nordsteam and crimean bridge are great infrastructure projects regardless of the obvious.

[@IvanIvanov-px9vj]

@@survivingworldsteam Tsarist and soviet Siberian railroads was 2 different thing if you didnt know

[@Vasily_dont_be_silly]

@@IvanIvanov-px9vj The Trans-Siberian was the same railroad. It's still the same railroad.

[@mayakstudios7292]

the construction was difficult, but not in vain, sailing by ship from Odessa to Vladivostok also ended with many victims. And the railway saved Russia during the war with the Germans. And I can get to Europe by train)

[@waffle_bars]

I've just discovered this channel, and have been delighted by every video I've seen so far. The captivating visuals and easy-to-follow, yet incredibly interesting writing and narration are surely a winning combination. Thank you for the effort you put in, and I hope to see more good stuff soon.

[@OwnGrid]

This completely misses the fact of the strategic location of Siberia, especially to Russia, as it provides access to the oceans and probably was the main reason for building the rail

[@rudolfkraffzick642]

With the T-S Railway finished a big number of troops could be moved to central and east Asian Russian territories and towards Iran, Afghanistan, China, Japan now within days, not within months as before. Since Russia and GB were imperialistic rivals in Asia this meant an enormous threat to GB. She therefore supported Japan against R. which led to the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 and to the Revolution of 1905 in Russia.

[@sydneystout4003]

sure, the Russian Pacific Fleet had to be connected with European Russia, & the Soviets even transported mini subs to the Far East.

[@joeltraten5967]

The transport of people and cargo over land by rail is more economical than across oceans by ship, in cost and in time. This is a key strategic and economic issue, as well as access to the resources of the interior. Ocean access is surely a strategic consideration, as well, though Russia’s only reliably warm water port is in Crimea. They were inspired by the example of the Transcontinental Railroad in the United States, and the Hamiltonian methods of its financing and construction.

[@Ozzy4201]

It still baffles me how you dont have more subs. Love what you do!

[@saltyleaf6002]

Most underrated channel on KZbin. Keep it up and I'm sure your well deserved recognition is coming soon!

[@baulus779]

This deserves much more. Especially the animations are excellently made, but everything is just so well done

[@user-yy8qc6yo1m]

This railway connecting economic center of Siberia - cities Novosibisrk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyrsk with western part of Russia. This railway very important in terms of economic. Novosibirsk is even third lagest city in Russia

[@LoisoPondohva]

It is important to understand that Novosibirsk and Kemerovo were established after the construction. And Kemerovo became a notable city also after. So the railway made those cities possible in the first place.

[@J_GamerSP]

Dude, this video is so gorgeous. The visuals are so pleasing to look at and the colour choice ideal for a topic that often times is this grim. It's almost distracting for me. Fantastic job! Must have taken ages

[@dolphin550]

This is a really well done video as always. I enjoy how you explained the history of this railroad in depth. Some textbooks, or at least mine, do not really have much information about this railroad rather than just a mention. So, I was really intrigued to hear about this railroad project. Thank you for sharing this information and I am looking forward to your next video.

[@tandemcompound2]

One of the best videos I have seen on YT. First rate graphics, narration, unfolding and story. thank you. Subscribed.

[@dallinwalters6836]

Amazing video, one of the most beautiful produced on this platform! No only is it incredible artistically but also in quality of information provided. Honestly this video makes me mad due to how few views it has and your lack of subscribers as the quality of videos you put out deserve so much more and I’m so sorry it hasn’t :(

[@louiss.w1944]

Solid visuals, scripts, topics and voice. This channel seems extremely underrated it’s only a matter of time before a couple hundred thousand subscribe.. peace from Canada keep up the good work y’all!

[@BabyHomeslicer]

Another excellent video with top tier editing! Keep this up, I am blown away by your attention to detail and subject matter.

[@TheRealDoctorBonkus]

Once again, a very beautiful and well-researched video! Thanks!

[@AndyRedwood]

Genuinely impressive visuals - you put quite a few commercial motion graphics artists to shame, and all the more impressive given it's free content. Thanks for creating!

[@yacan1]

Incredible video. These videos would be great for education settings also. Easy to follow and indepth for the time you spend on them. Quality production, wonderful visuals. Awesome as always

[@h.p.734]

Hidden gem of a channel. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute! Bravo

[@wgolyoko]

God your animations are so interesting to watch just on their own. The narration is bonus at this point lol. Great video man

[@willsayer97]

Not only are your narratives well-scripted, your editing and visuals are some of the best I've seen - keep it up.

[@ollieoxenfree6317]

This is an amazing video with documentary levels of quality! I am so surprised you don't have at least 200k subscribers yet! Definetly earned one from me

[@charlesshaffer7417]

Best video I have seen on KZbin in a very long time. incredible production, I cant wait to see this channel grow.

[@1a2b]

thank you very much for providing captions! they do not go unappreciated :)

[@williamparker7386]

I really commend you for having done a great job citing your sources in the description. Im trying to only listen to youtubers that do this... and its difficult to find interesting content that does source. Thanks for being honest, credible, and for not cheating the system.

[@ohlers]

Really enjoyed this video! Loved the animation and story telling.

[@GGE]

Fantastic production quality. Hope this channel blows up. Great job.

[@christianbrockrandall1157]

This is made extremely well, I have no doubt in my mind if you are consistent with this quality of videos your channel will continue growing.

[@roffel2933]

Amazing work. You deserve way more views and subs. Keep up the good work. Cant wait what else you have in stock.

[@slagmaxxing]

Just a beautiful video my friend, from the narrative to the production. Another one to add to your collection of quality content.

[@debaser1118]

I swear if you upload this in russian you will get so much more views, because most russian people already know the historical background behind the railway construction and would be very interested. We don't get so much details in russian schools about these things. Thank you for this video!

[@codyfraser7140]

With every video you put out it astounds me that you don't have 10x as many views. Thank you for such quality content.

[@Dan-sh8xg]

Your channel is going to blow up like a rocket - the quality is incredible!

[@sproge2142]

I really hope your next video is about what you spoke about in the ending, the railways place in history and today! Great vid!

[@astrolonim2032]

You are such an amazing channel. You’ll hit 100k soon. Thanks for all the great work!

[@WesloTheHandsome]

Found this Morning, Subscribed in

[@PEACE_REAPER]

Incredible information formatted in a beautiful way. Thank you!

[@seb_5969]

Great Video. I love your visuals and storytelling

[@andrewwalsh4366]

Great video! Kept me hooked the whole time, and awesome visuals.

[@nopulse6911]

great video as always, keep up the work!

[@matouskulhanek3320]

Man this video is great. I dont usualy comment, but this deserves it for the algorythm so that more people get to know you!!

[@user-cd4bx6uq1y]

This is as high quality as a government sponsored documentary would be

[@robertfreeman5054]

😂

[@jonathanknipe]

One of your best videos yet!

[@tasty_ai]

Really love the presentation, the animation. Hoping to see more of your videos.

[@scraps7624]

This was such an incredible watch, absolute top tier video mate, 10/10

[@willp2906]

Came here from Battle Order's community post and damn I've never been happier to read a KZbin community post, this is superb.

[@sydneysebiloane8046]

I rode the trans-siberian in 2018 after the World Cup. It was a dream experience. I experienced Kazan, Boris Yeltzin home, Ikaterinbeg, Euro-Asian border, Ulaanbaatar. Fascinating. It took me 19 days including stop over. Should repeat it within 5yrs. Not sure if I share do Vladivostok or Beijing.

[@genericname1235]

Awesome video. Very interesting and beautiful animations. Keep it up!

[@bogdanzavoianu]

Amazing quality. This is brilliant work!

[@seankudler86]

Great story telling and visual composition skills👍

[@mnkwazi]

This was really well made. I watch a lot of youtube videos and lose interest quickly, but this really kept me interested.

[@michaelcox4818]

Please make a second, longer video on this topic! The Trans-Siberian is so interesting.

[@GhostGum]

Fantastic video. Writing, editing, thumbnail, pacing, all amazing

[@IMPERIALYT]

Wow, love your vids, super glad you enjoyed it!

[@alexcinos3756]

"Earthen huts" does not mean "wooden huts", it literally means "huts made of earth" or "zemlyanka" in Russian, a quite common mode of living if there is nothing better to turn to at the time

[@willrez9721]

just got into your channel tonight and dang these are well made videos. at first listen i thought you had a million+ sub base

[@CommanderVK]

Wow this production and narration was amazing, you deserve so much more success! I look forward to what you do in the future

[@idontreallyknow2885]

Amazing work as always

[@free_at_last8141]

I'm glad that I've found your channel. Wonderful content, you're set to get many many subscribers. Keep it up!

[@colorless3560]

Hidden gem! Nice graphics too. Subscribed!

[@Ivolutcion]

Wow it's 10pm iam in bed and I just found this KZbin channel the fact that you only have 20k is insane because your production quality is insane.

[@jesperlindstrom4613]

Ey, amazing renders and topic. Subscribed

[@user-cd4bx6uq1y]

This was really refreshing, like seeing this kind of video for the first time

[@Pine_of_England]

Whenever I start one of your videos I just know I'm going to finish it

[@JesusRodriguez-fi3ci]

I'm amazed by the level of production these videos have

[@randompillow5146]

Very good video. You have a bright future if you keep putting out content like this.

[@mishydev]

Absolutely beautiful editing mate.

[@tamirspivak9434]

Its already been said but how the hell do you only jave 20k subs. Hopefully in a year when u have a million ill come back and say: " here from the 20k days. Those were the times". Keep making high quality content.

[@lemokemo5752]

I love the information and more importantly the presentation

[@absurdcamus6026]

How did you learn to write scripts like this? They are amazing. Do you think this writing style can be applicable to a historical paper? I really want to write history on level like you do.

[@Sireeeee]

I can't belive how much effort you put into this video

[@tomvandijk9706]

Amazing video as always! Could this be the start of a Trans Siberian Railway series perhaps?

[@nouxintta4325]

Your channel is fucking incredible! Keep going. There’s a huge market for quality video essays and trust me you will blow up.

[@muddywisconsin]

It is unbelievable to me you don’t have more subscribers, this video was insanely well produced

[@LprogressivesANDliberals]

Miss Wisconsin. Bless the Midwest. ⚪️🔴🦡🦡 cheers

[@EssxEnergy]

This is a really good video man ♥️

[@HundreadD]

Absolutely brilliant quality, though I do think you went somewhat light on details of the construction itself. Still, much room to grow and I can't be the only one to see a glittering future for this channel

[@jacobpreen1118]

Great I love the animations, the including of sources etc., history channels should always present sources as they make as many claims as a book.

[@aresnir2725]

Beautifully made video. But as I understand, your idea is that Siberia and Far East should not be part of Russia, the railway is not needed since its just "gigantomania project of autocrat". This raleway was essential for connecting country together and for development of far territories. Witte and the Csars thought about economic development of Russia, about protection of it's borders, and not just maintaining their own power. You focusing too much about personal ambitions of people in power, misunderstanding their true motivation and intentions.

[@___-cp6or]

A video on the Czech Foreign Legion’s Control of the railway during the civil war would be interesting

[@oneshothunter9877]

Agree. It was because of them coming back to west Russia from east that made the soviets panic and kill the tzar. I think.

[@dougxto6603]

Best well researched KZbin historical channel

[@towrofterra]

Another excellent video!! Commenting for the algorithm so you can get the views/subs you deserve 👏

[@pikkle]

absolutely incredible content man

[@cryptic2121]

I saw the editing and thought you had like a million subscribers :O you don’t but you will soon with amazing quality like this

[@simonmayer8638]

Excellent channel and video!!

[@BasicXavier]

Absolutely fantastic video!

[@maxvern]

Visuals are FANTASTIC.

[@askhatabdrakhman2355]

Great video, thank you! Please make another on importance of Transsiberian railway in russian history

[@christiank1251]

Superb video, informative & beautiful. I take issue though with symbolizing Poland in its post-1945 shape (at 10:28).

[@thefjalar1869]

10:30 that's not the map of russian occupied Poland, but of modern 3rd Republic

[@IMPERIALYT]

thanks for pointing that out, will add to the corrections in the source document

[@thefjalar1869]

@@IMPERIALYT thanks