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The Railways

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The Spread of the Russian Revolution

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Abstract

The political problems which involved Russia’s railways in 1917 were predetermined to some extent by those economic and geographical factors that had led to the building of the railways in the first place and which continued to govern their functions up to the revolution. In order to understand the situation in 1917, we must look first at these factors. During the years immediately before the downfall of the Tsarist regime, two clearly defined periods emerge with regard to needs and facilities in railway communications — the period of peace prior to 1914, and the First World War.

Comrades, railwaymen! The fate of the revolution hangs on your decision. The future historian will most likely say ‘the railwaymen saved the revolution’ or ‘the railwaymen ruined the revolution’.

From a speech at the Railwaymen’s Union Confer- ence. October 29 1917

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Authors
  1. Roger Pethybridge
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© 1972 Roger Pethybridge

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Pethybridge, R. (1972). The Railways. In: The Spread of the Russian Revolution. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01363-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01363-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-01365-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-01363-0

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History CollectionHistory (R0)

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