Trans-Siberian Railway: The Queen of Railways

[@linksrepublikaner]

The Trans Siberian Railway is truly a stunning marvel of railway construction!

[@AliBaba-mb1pu]

So expertly made bro, very professional you will have many millions of subscribers keep at It!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you!

[@timlilijinsheng4070]

6:15 that line is now being somewhat resurrected as a part of the "8 Vertical 8 Horizontal" high speed railway grid in which part of the line(Qiqihar to Suifenghe) will have a high speed parallel line with a guaranteed speed of at least 200km/h

[@route55qatar]

Awesome video and awesome engineering feat! Thanks for sharing. Trans-Siberian in bucket list!

[@amirbrotzki9752]

Defiantly learned many new things and enjoyed as always. Thank you.

[@RailwaysExplained]

You're welcome 😊

[@sreedharraj3821]

Your presentation and quality of content is excellent. Your channel is very underrated. You really need more subscribers.

[@20PhantoM07]

That was nice to chill and listen to thanks man, subbed.

[@skiparkcityut]

They were able to build this way back then , and we can't even get california high speed rail working way shorter in better weather

[@vartal]

The progressivity of Europe is determined only by the fact that it has a track of 1435? Are you serious? And who decided that the 1435 gauge is the standard?

[@Patrick_3751]

George Stephenson, the guy who pioneered railway transportation, used it on his railways in Britain. He became so well known and renowned as a railway builder that other railways in Britain invited him to work for them. In doing so he changed many of their gauges to 1435, which was quickly adopted as the standard gauge in Britain due to its widespread use. From there it spread around the world due to Britain being THE manufacturer for early locomotives and because it was a logical starting point for other countries to emulate.

[@eljosende873]

@@Patrick_3751 So, it's a standard for Britain, which no one cares, except the britons. Thanks.

[@Patrick_3751]

@@eljosende873 The 90+ countries that also use 1435 as their standard gauge would disagree with you

[@roberturbanczyk204]

​@@eljosende873 it's a standard expect spain and 3rd world

[@arifhafizamhamzah32]

Really informative...nice history

[@RailwaysExplained]

Glad you liked it

[@jouebien]

its also longer than the line from Perth to Sydney (4,352km).

[@موسى_7]

Best video from this channel!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you!

[@Greatdome99]

It should be noted that the Chief Engineer for the construction of the Trans Siberian Railway was American John F. Stevens, who was also the chief engineer for the American Panama Canal and the Great Northern Railway between the Twin Cities and Puget Sound.

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Yes, a telling omission.

[@jimmyrh247]

That's strange, the Wikipedia article on Stevens says that he only became involved with Russian railways from 1917, after the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed. Perhaps you could revise that Wikipedia article...

[@mustafacano6208]

Enlightening 🙏🏿

[@michaelfloro]

Amazing video and a really precious channel.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you!

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

they should make a movie about moving whole factories in WW2 - would make an interesting movie!!! that s crazy - moving whole factories!! While WW1 and 2 never happened (genocide did - it happended/happens here) it owuld make a great movie!!!

[@RailwaysExplained]

That would be really interesting!

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

@Alp Dringus yeah,ive seen several documentrys on it also, but its hard not to watch new videos because its so impressive. The onle aspect i wished he had put in there for people to know was the fact that the original line was made with ricady thin rails that broke down often so while the liens was complete it wssn't up to standered for another almost 2 decades later, after slowly repairing parts of the line with money made from it and government revinue being put into it!!!

[@classifiedbell9027]

Even that railway has been electrfied meanwhile us transcontiental railway hasn't

[@DarkLordSauron100]

Be awesome if you did a video about the Trans Australian Railway some time.

[@paolog7809]

Did from Vladivostok to Moscow then St.P. (from HK by land) then Canada YVR-Nova Scotia (then onwards to St. John NL by bus then Ferry).. Both solo in a year and solo. Canada may be superior in a lot of things but train travel in Russia is a dozen times better!!!

[@calamity1803]

Wow ur blesssed I been trying to for that’s 15 year

[@Michael_Brock]

The first transcontinental railway in the Americas was NOT the Union Pacific! It was the Panama railway before the canal was built.

[@grahamturner2640]

Does it really count? It’s not very long.

[@LearnwithJanice]

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸

[@lukat7052]

One of the best videos!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thanks 🙂

[@hlebsavitski2166]

the last image with the mountain in the background is not Russia

[@Hans-gb4mv]

I was gonna say that it looked a lot like Mt Fuji in Japan.

[@wyqtor]

@@Hans-gb4mv I noticed that too, and while it does appear to be Mt. Fuji, the Russians have plenty of similar-looking mountains of their own in Kamchatka. Dare I say even more impressive ones. Unfortunately, there is no railway or even a proper road connection to the rest of the country up there.

[@hououinkyouma2426]

Do a video on freight train

[@RailwaysExplained]

Have you watched our video about the heaviest trains?

[@johnct2618]

Hi. May i know the picture with the volcano on the city near the end of this video. Where is that exact place?

[@patrickmurphy6775]

I enjoyed this video very much!

[@botasnaroca423]

Very good, thank you.

[@flare2000x]

Still waiting for the Canadian transcontinental railway video

[@beback_]

This is as if from a legend.

[@scott.macdonald]

What happened to the USA transcontinental railroad video?

[@ShangZilla]

During the Russian civil war, the Czechoslovak Legion captured the railway and fought their way from Western Russia all the the way to Vladivostok where they successfully evacuated back to Czechoslovakia.

[@hobog]

14:26 that's obviously not Vladivostok. Great video otherwise

[@marianandnorbert]

are you sure that's vladivostok? that looks more like mount fuji than a mountain near vladivostok

[@sarcasmo57]

It really is pretty long.

[@GyacoYu]

The worst thing about the 1520mm broad gauge is - it is too narrow to be built together with a standard gauge. As a Chinese I would prefer if Tsar chose Indian gauge.

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

In the long run, it has hurt Russia more than helping.

[@mattevans4377]

It could always be made standard gauge. The cutting and tunnels and bridges wouldn't need changing, just the track.

[@timlilijinsheng4070]

it's ok 4mx5.3 won't hurt anybody, if they manage to change to standard gauge it would be quite beneficial

[@ianhomerpura8937]

There is now technology for change-of-gauge to be easier, similar to the ones Spain uses to switch between Iberian and Standard Gauge

[@dchernisheff]

For the building of Russia's first major railway, the Saint Petersburg-Moscow railway, engineer Pavel Melnikov hired as consultant George Washington Whistler, a prominent American railway engineer. Whistler recommended 5 ft (1,524 mm) on the basis that it was cheaper to construct than 6 ft (1,829 mm) while still offering the same advantages over 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) and that there was no need to worry about a break-of-gauge since it would never be connected to the Western European railways. Colonel P.P. Melnikov, of the Construction Commission overseeing the railway, recommended 6 ft (1,829 mm) following the example of the first railway and his study of US Railways. Following a report sent by Whistler the head of the Main Administration of Transport and Buildings recommended 5 ft (1,524 mm) and it was approved for the railway by Tsar Nicholas I on 14 February 1843. The next lines built were also approved with this gauge but it was not until March 1860 that a Government decree stated all major railways in Russia would be 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge. It is widely and incorrectly believed that Imperial Russia chose a gauge broader than standard gauge for military reasons, namely to prevent potential invaders from using the rail system. In 1841 a Russian army engineer wrote a paper stating that such a danger did not exist since railways could be made dysfunctional by retreating or diverting forces. Also the construction of the Warsaw-Vienna railway in 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) was precisely so it could be connected to the Western European network, in that case to reduce Poland's dependence on Prussia for transport. Finally for the Saint Petersburg-Moscow railway, which became the benchmark, the choice of track gauge was between 5 ft (1,524 mm) and the wider 6 ft (1,829 mm), not standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in).[6] However, it was just not selected with that in mind. When a railway has wooden sleepers, it is fairly easy to make the gauge narrower by removing the nails and placing them back at a narrower position, something Germany did during WWII. Destroying river bridges had a larger effect.

[@jasonqian]

The use of many maps greatly helps to illustrate the story, better than other KZbin videos of the same subject.

[@philrabe910]

I keep getting questions asked on Quora about the 'inevitable decline of rail transport' and the ascension of trucks... I just laugh. Growing up in the US during the height of the cold war, we were taught how awful the conditions were in the construction of the original line. Once it was built of course, it was much easier to maintain and expand into a double track.

[@RileysViews]

I have to watch this for school😑

[@issy5888]

Bro imagine that

[@АклызМелкенды]

that's great

[@bogdanscripcariu6501]

@@АклызМелкенды @Issy He doesn't like it, but he most likely expected a porn video or at least a video-game trailer! XDD These dudes from the west, Jeez!!

[@siyacer]

Beautiful.

[@ruarygamer3541]

I'm watching this for 12 geography ..from India 🌹

[@PeterVC]

Great video, but that photo of Vladivostok at 14:26 is of Yokohama, Japan (taken from Landmark Tower) with a photoshopped in image of Mount Fuji, which isn't that close at all from that view in Yokohama.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Yes, it's a mistake... 😕

[@gezag.hanniker1940]

I wanted to travel on that but the world went upside down.

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

Russians looking at American megaprojects: A m e t a u r s

[@GyacoYu]

Meanwhile Americans are using Russian railway as a "typical" example of bad maintenance: "our railway might not be as good as European ones, but don't ask too much as at least it's better than the Russian railway." Me: "C'mon, man. I just came from Russia and took the least maintained section of railway in Siberia. Guess what it runs way smoother than yours. I mean America is a great country but please, don't try to defend this great nation's railway system..."

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

@@GyacoYu Even the Indian railways is better than US railways. Yes, many trains are overcrowded and because of the horrific crowding cleaning and other maintainance are nightmare, but the situation is improving a lot almost on a day by day basis, the lines and equipment are vastly more well-maintained, it's almost completely electrified, and the situation some tracks in US rustbelt are, would give migraine to our engineers.

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

@ep5 Outperforms in railways

[@GyacoYu]

@ep5 Nope. I think he was suggesting Russia outperforms the US in per-capita railroad coverage. Don't arbitrarily extend other's opinion.

[@jonathanlampier7754]

Great content! But just to clarify the trans canadian railway connects Halifax and Vancouver. St. John's is located on the island of Newfoundland and has never had a railway connection. Newfoundland was also not part of Canada until the mid 20th century so was not part of the trans continental effort.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Dear Jonathan, thanks for this clarification. Enjoy our content.

[@abibu_chan]

St John's had a railway connection, although it wasn't part of the trans-continental effort. It was the eastern terminal of the Newfoundland Railway, which later became part of CN. The railway could actually interchange railcars with the mainland from 1965 to 1985 using a ferry from North Sydney, NS to Port aux Basques, NL, where the bogies on the cars were switched out for the narrow gauge bogies needed to traverse the island's rails.

[@tjejojyj]

Good video. However if you are going to give Stalin credit for anything in WWII you need state he left the USSR unprepared for the largest land invasion in world history by a regime that had always promised to try to destroy the USSR that Stalin had signed a non-aggression treaty with. -- They didn’t choose 5’/1524mm gauge for military purposes, even if it had defensive advantages later. FROM WIKIPEDIA Not selected for military purposes It is widely and incorrectly believed that Imperial Russia chose a gauge broader than standard gauge for military reasons, namely to prevent potential invaders from using the rail system. In 1841 a Russian army engineer wrote a paper stating that such a danger did not exist since railways could be made dysfunctional by retreating or diverting forces. Also the construction of the Warsaw-Vienna railway in 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) was precisely so it could be connected to the Western European network, in that case to reduce Poland's dependence on Prussia for transport. Finally for the Moscow - Saint Petersburg Railway, which became the benchmark, the choice of track gauge was between 5 ft (1,524 mm) and the wider 6 ft (1,829 mm), not standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in). However, it was just not selected with that in mind. When a railway has wooden sleepers, it is fairly easy to make the gauge narrower by removing the nails and placing them back at a narrower position, something Germany did during WWII. Destroying river bridges had a larger effect.[citation needed] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_ft_and_1520_mm_gauge_railways?wprov=sfti1

[@RailwaysExplained]

First of all, thanks for the comment. You gave good arguments, but we would definitely like to see a source of data from Wikipedia. What you said makes sense, but you will agree that our first claim of choosing this width of the track "The decision to avoid standard gauge was most likely aimed at isolating conservative Russia from progressive Europe" is certainly correct. As for the use of the railway for military purposes, watch our video on the role of the railway in the First World War: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnSmpKyldquZY8U. They may not have chosen this track width for war reasons but they certainly reduced the possibility of invasion.

[@21nickik]

You didn't mention the railway that was built to Port Arther. That was more relevant for Japan.

[@mattevans4377]

Isn't there a train that goes between China and the UK? How does it pass through the broad gauge network of Russia?

[@semicolontransistor]

the containers just get transferred onto a Russian train. The process repeats when they enter the standard gauge area in Europe.

[@mattevans4377]

@@semicolontransistor So basically when the media said the 'train' had made the journey from China (when the journey was first made), they were lying..... Why am I not surprised?

[@semicolontransistor]

@@mattevans4377 Also, it depends on your definition of the train. Is it the entire train,?just the cars and not the locomotive? or the cargo? The locomotive is usually changed every couple hundreds of miles. The cars are changes at the break of gauge locations, but the cargo made it all the way to the UK. There is also the option of changing out the bogies of the cars for broad-gauge ones. which is used for passenger trains. The Beijing to Moscow train uses the same cars for the entire journey with the bogies getting swapped at the break of gauge with Mogolia.

[@IngTomT]

@@semicolontransistor The Ship of Theseus thought experiment comes to my mind here

[@Coltoid]

St. John’s is in Newfoundland. You meant Saint John in New Brunswick, however I don’t believe that was correct, it definitely went to Halifax Nova Scotia.

[@justinvinson91]

Then what is the king number f railways??

[@Atlantjan]

Informative, but damn, those maps (e.g. 14:31)

[@RailwaysExplained]

What's wrong with them?

[@Atlantjan]

@@RailwaysExplained the mainland US includes Cuba but not Alaska & Hawaii, and Russia includes 5 other Central Asian countries, and at no point in time (during US imperialism or the Russian Empire/USSR) the shape of these countries was like that, they were either much bigger or considerably smaller. Besides, the city markers are quite a bit off in the case of the North American countries

[@RailwaysExplained]

The map is from the end of the 19th century, when the construction of transcontinental railways (USA, Canada and Russia) took place. Therefore the boundaries are not in line with today's times 🙂

[@Atlantjan]

@@RailwaysExplained of course, but the western boundaries of both countries looked a fair bit different during the 19th century - the mainland US only got its final shape in 1854 because of the southern route of the transcontinental railroad, and it didn't occupy Cuba until 1898. After the Napoleonic wars, the Russian Empire included Finland, Belarus, the Baltic & Caucasian states, as well as half of Poland and Ukraine too. Alaska changed hands from one country to the other in 1867. Labrador (without Newfoundland) was part of Canada during that century as well. The map from 4:42 where the country shapes come from is not very good in the first place - e.g., the colonial empires are very mixed up. The other maps are completely fine though and I still very much enjoyed your video.

[@timothyjohnston4083]

@@RailwaysExplained Vancouver is NOT that far north. In fact, it is much further south, very close to the border with the US.

[@thomaspp1980]

13:34 ♡

[@JdMsk]

1524 mm gauge was not invented by Russians. It was borrowed by the russian engineers from the southern US railroads as the most adequate gauge. See 5 ft. gauge.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thanks for that information.

[@JanaSmelena]

Trans-Siberian Railway caused huge amount of suffering as it was used to forcefully deport people from their homes in USSR occupied countries to Siberia.

[@russiafromwithin5440]

How many africans did West killed and enslaved?

[@JanaSmelena]

@@russiafromwithin5440 That's not related to this topic

[@russiafromwithin5440]

@@JanaSmelena may be but never forget about it.

[@darthmaul216]

@@russiafromwithin5440 we should never forget about both

[@grigol101]

LOL. Pure Western idiocy, not clouded by logic and common sense. Do you know how before, before the railway, prisoners were sent to Siberia for hard labor? They were sent on foot.

[@tompeled6193]

3:42 typo (Siberain)

[@RailwaysExplained]

Accidentally 😁

[@redranger5288]

Explanation style is very dull interested to see full video... really need to change the way u explain

[@TheWizardGamez]

Trans Siberian railway was either a blessing, or a curse for you. You might have been able to get fresh salmon from Vladivostok, or have been forced to go mine coal in Vladivostok

[@Thinkofwhat]

The City with 16,000 Electric Buses & 22,000 Electric Taxis | 100% Independent, 100% Electric; kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoGal4eGgbiAm6s

[@timlilijinsheng4070]

*Railways Explained now explaining Trans-Siberian Railway* me: Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Дружбы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт! Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: Нас вырастил Сталин - на верность народу, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Счастья народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт! Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. Захватчиков подлых с дороги сметём! Мы в битвах решаем судьбу поколений, Мы к славе Отчизну свою поведём! Припев: Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Славы народов надёжный оплот! Знамя советское, знамя народное Пусть от победы к победе ведёт!*(State Anthem of the Soviet Union playing in the background)* *oh wait that thing's built in the days of the Russian Empire* me: 10 seconds later after realization: Боже, Царя храни! Сильный, державный, Царствуй на славу, на славу намъ! Царствуй на страхъ врагамъ, Царь православный! Боже, Царя храни!*(God Save the Tsar playing in the background)* also I am officially subscribing to your channel

[@guillensuarezmartinez831]

= The a new hope. ★ of this star wars episode four free days ago I HAVE BEEN SENT FROM YOUR TIME with. 🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞

[@jamescache1768]

What is your native language???

[@GraemeBray]

It should be the Commonwealth of Australia on the World Map. Canada and New Zealand were labelled as dominions.

[@MrStark-up6fi]

Am I first here?

[@xkv8rop]

Don’t know where he thinks Vancouver is on the map, but that’s definitely not it 🤦🏻🤷🏻