Railway Day Established

Railway Day was the first professional holiday to be established in Russia. It was introduced in 1896 and timed to coincide with the birthday of Emperor Nicholas I on 25 June. Nicholas I’s reign from 1825 to 1855 saw the beginning of rail construction in Russia.

The Ministry of Railways issued Order No. 58 on 9 July 1896 which read:

"The Sovereign Emperor, in commemoration of the birthday of Emperor Nicholas I, whose Sovereign Will initiated the construction and operation of railways in Russia, according to our most humble report, on 28 June of this year, deigned by the Highest Command:

to establish an annual celebration of the Anniversary of Emperor Nicholas I by all central and local institutions in charge of railways in Russia. Such a Supreme Will was announced by Prince M. Khilkov, Department of Railways, Minister of Railways".

Railway Day was celebrated annually on 25 June until 1917. Every year, railway staff and workers took the day off, while as a rule a gala reception and concert were held in the evening at the Hall of Pavlovsky station at the Tsarskoye Selo railway.

After 1917, the holiday was forgotten for almost 20 years.

The tradition of honouring railway staff and workers was revived in the Soviet Union only in 1936 after they had exceeded the targets in the transportation plan in 1935 for the first time in many years. At the end of July, leading workers and production managers gathered in Moscow and 56 were awarded medals. A number of geographical rail divisions then approached the government with requests to celebrate labour successes every year.

As a result, a government decree issued on 28 July 1936 established the day for the professional holiday of railway staff and workers as 30 July. The celebration was subsequently moved to the first weekend day in August.