THE CENTRAL MUSEUM OF THE OCTOBER RAILWAY

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October Railway Central Museum (Saint Petersburg), 118, building 2 Obvodny Canal Embankment, St. Petersburg (tel.: +7 812 768-20-63, +7 812 768-21-37, +7 812 768-26-29, +7 812 768-68-91, +7 812 768-21-37), Metro stations: "Baltiyskaya", "Frunzenskaya".

The October Railway Central Museum (the Museum, for short) was established in 1978. The Museum introduces the evolution history of the St. Petersburg transport hub and railway system of the North-West with over 30 roads including Tzarskoselskaya, Peterburgo-Moskovskaya, Peterburgo-Varshavskaya, Baltiyskaya, Finlyandskaya, Moskovsko-Vindavo-Rybinskaya, Murmanskaya railroad, and others.

The Museum exposition opens with a map of Russian waterways. By the beginning of the 19th century, three water systems — Vyshnevolotskaya, Mariinskaya, and Tikhvinskaya — stretched from the basin of the Volga River to Petersburg. These systems consisted of rivers, canals, and floodgates. Lack of proper roads over the huge territory of Russia negatively influenced economical and cultural development of the country. In 1712, Peter the Great ordered to build a rout between Petersburg and Moscow through Novgorod. The road construction was ended in 1746. In 1817 to 1834 the rout became a highway. The first Russian society of stage-coaches was formed in 1820 to make a regular passenger service between the capitals possible.

The Museum exhibits illustrate the period drama of the 1917 October Revolution and Civil War. The war greatly damaged the railroad system. Reconstruction of railways was one of the most important missions for the Soviet Union.

The Museum exposition that displays the current condition of the October Railroad, newly opened depots, and improved technologies is constantly replenished. Little visitors of the Museum are also not forgotten. A model of working railroad is designed specially for them. The Parovoz (Puff-puff) Hobby Centre is opened by the Museum where you can consult and purchase anything necessary for your model railway.

Today, the Museum affiliates 28 branches in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Khovrino, Bologoye, Velikiye Luki, Dno, Pskov, Rzhev, Murmansk, Kandalaksha, and Petrozavodsk. The Museum Association includes the only Museum Rail Carriage and the first in Russia Museum of full-sized railway equipment near St. Petersburg (The Locomotive Museum).

The Museum is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways (FEDECRAIL). This fact enables to keep railroad heritage and promote railway service in Russia and abroad.