Pavel Melnikov, the Russia’s first Minister of Railways (1866-1869) was born on this day
Under his headship of the Main Railway Authority (since 1865, the Ministry of Railways), the network of Russian railways burgeoned and expanded by 7062 km. he was among the authors of the project for the St. Petersburg – Moscow trunk line. That project paved the way for the domestic school of railway and bridge construction.
A devoted professional, this outstanding man dedicated his career to promotion and advancement of the national railways. Pavel Melnikov made the railways one of the crowning glories of the Russian empire, established and nurtured a superb domestic school of railway construction. His fundamental works and selfless enthusiasm allowed Russia to become independent of the services of foreign experts. Again, it was Pavel Melnikov who introduced and substantiated in his works the terms like "switching points", "passing loop", "siding tracks" and the most of the industrial terminology.
In 1862 he was appointed chief manager of the railways. In 1869 he resigned and retired to reside in Lyuban, where he took up writing his magnum opus entitled "The Particulars Of The Russian Railways" in 4 volumes. Apart from scientific work, Melnikov became engaged in charitable activities. For instance, he initiated the construction of the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Lyuban station in 1867. The project was designed by the academician architect Konstantin Ton. The choice was obvious: this architect authored the designs both of Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the buildings of the passenger stations along the St. Petersburg – Moscow railway. Although the construction of the church was financed from voluntary donations, most of the funds were contributed by Pavel Melnikov. The name of the Russia’s first minister of railways is carved on a memorial plaque in the church, alongside the names of all principal builders of the trunk line, 79 people in total. Melnikov also sponsored the construction of a school for children of railway workers, an almshouse for old women and an orphanage.
Pavel Melnikov passed away in 1880. The Russia’s first minister of railways was buried under the altar of the church that he built, near the railway station. In 1955, a bronze monument was unveiled at the Lyuban railway station – a bust of Pavel Melnikov by the sculptor Epifanov.
In 2002, on Komsomolskaya Square in Moscow, the foundation stone of the monument to Pavel Melnikov was laid. The monument to the Russia’s first Minister of Railways of Russia was unveiled on August 1, 2003. Delegates of railway workers from all over Russia took part in the ceremony. The monument to Pavel Melnikov by the sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov, more than 4 meters high, was cast at a plant in Zhukovsky near Moscow at the expense of the Ministry of Railways of Russia. The sculptor depicted Melnikov in the ceremonial uniform with all awards.