User:Maryland florida/Imperial Train of Russia

The Imperial Train of Russia was made for Nicholas Alexandrovich (future Nicholas II). Construction for the train started in 1892 at the Alexandrovsky Works, located outside of St. Petersburg, Russia, and was mainly completed by 1894.

Construction and Design
The train was considered to be one of the firsts of its kind as a result of its ornate details and advanced technology. The Imperial train was made up of 11 cars and measured approximately 990 feet long. The train consisted of sleeping cars, a dining car, a saloon, a kitchen, as well as carriages for luggage and servants. The last carriage to be added to the train was a church car. Additionally the train had 26 full time staff on board to provide luxury service to the passengers.

The details on the train were immaculate and little expense was spared. The wood on the train was Indian teak and much of the walls are furniture was upholstered in English cretonne. Additionally, an abundance of fine silk and leather decorated the cars. The ceilings had intricate panels on them that were lit up by bronze wall mounted sconces. The bathrooms were covered in marble and the bathtub was custom made in Paris of copper and silver with a unique design to prevent water from splashing out of the tub while the train was moving. It was said that "the whole train [was] an example of the most rigorous attention to the smallest details."

The Imperial Train and Russian Railway System in World War I
In August of 1915, following the German advance towards Russia's borders, the Imperial train was commissioned for the war. Many of the carriages were not needed for the war effort and as a result the number of cars in service was fiminied to three. The train was frequently used as a military field office because a telephone and a telegraph were stored on board the train. Additionally, a new branch and rail station were constructed during the first world war in order to hide the location of the train. The train's station was located in a thick forest which created a fortress that was protected by armed police agents.

Prior to World War I Russia had 71,000 kilometers (approximately 44,117 miles) of railway tracks. However, of these tracks only 13 railway routes led to enemy borders which was scare compared to other countries such as the Austrian Hungarian Empire which had 32 railway tracks leading to Russian borders. A large strain was put on the Russian railway system during World War I as both the number of passengers traveling on the train and the amount of goods requiring transportation increased exponentially. The strain was incredibly apparent to Russians during the war as many basic goods and necessities were difficult to acquire as as a result of the exacerbated railway system.

Destruction of the Imperial Train
The Imperial train of Russia was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45) which was a subdivision of World War II in which the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany on their eastern front. While a discussion occurred on the potential of restoring the train, it was ultimately decided to retire the train in 1945. The surviving carriages and relics are currently on display at the Peterhof Museum Complex in St. Petersburg Russia.