The subway is one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth century. It is difficult to imagine life in a big city without this type of transport. Few people know that in Moscow and St. Petersburg you can visit an institution such as a subway museum. Guests of these cities will certainly be interested in visiting such a place.
Metro as a mode of transport
The word "metro" itself is of English origin and literally translates as "metropolitan railway." The metro is a special type of transport, which is a railway line (or several lines), along which trains run on given routes. The main feature of the subway, which distinguishes it from all other modes of transport, is its isolation, isolation in relation to street and pedestrian traffic.
However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a particular transportation system is in the subway. For example, is the underground railway in New Athos a subway? Or the so-called light rail in the city of Krivoy Rog, part of the route of which passes underground? That is why in the world there are many "hybrid" (borderline) metro systems.
The world's first subway line was laid in London in 1863. Its length was almost 6 kilometers.
The largest metro system on the planet today is the New York subway. It includes 24 routes and has 468 stations. In Europe, the largest metro is located in Moscow.
To visit the subway museum in a city is a great opportunity to learn about the history of its construction, and about the city as a whole.
Moscow Metro: history and modernity
In the former Soviet Union, the first metro appeared in the capital of this state. The first line in Moscow was launched back in 1935, and before the war, in 1941, there were already three lines operating in the city. During the Great Patriotic War, the Moscow metro tunnels were actively used as bomb shelters.
Interestingly, the idea of building a subway in the city arose as far back as the time of the Russian Empire, namely in 1875. But all those projects were never implemented. The Metropolitan Museum of History in Moscow will tell in full detail about the history of its creation and development.
Today, the Moscow Metro system includes 12 lines with 196 stations. In the next five years, their total number should increase by another 78 stations.
It is worth noting that the Moscow metro is not only a mode of transport. This is also a real reserve of socialist realism - the cultural trend of the Soviet era. So, 44 stations of the Moscow Metro are included in the list of cultural heritage sites of the country.
Metro Museum (Moscow)
The exhibits of this museum will definitely be interesting to people of all ages. Reviews about him are extremely positive.
We can assume that the Moscow Metro Museum was founded in 1967. It was then that the first small exposition was organized. Subway officials suggested that it would be of interest to ordinary residents of the capital. And they were not mistaken. The museum has always had visitors, from the very first day of its existence.
It is logical that the Moscow Metro Museum is also underground. Namely, within the Sportivnaya metro station. You can visit it from Tuesday to Saturday (from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
In general, the Moscow Metro Museum leaves a good impression on both ordinary visitors and people who are professionally connected with transport. Here you can see many interesting exhibits, including: models of an escalator and a turnstile, a real metro train cabin, numerous layouts, as well as a huge collection of tokens and tickets (some of which date back to 1935).
Reviews about the museum are extremely positive. Everyone who visited here noted that the exhibits are of great interest, especially among local historians and lovers of all antiquity. Tourists also like excursion support in the museum, which is carried out at a high level. Many are delighted with the opportunity to sit in the chair of the train operator.
However, visitors to the museum also note one significant drawback - it is too small an area for such expositions.
Petersburg Metro: history and modernity
Unlike Moscow, the metro in St. Petersburg was launched after the war - in 1955. Today, the St. Petersburg metro consists of five lines, has 67 stations and 7 interchange stations. Some stations are successfully combined with the city's railway stations.
The St. Petersburg metro has one distinctive feature: it holds the first place in the world in the average depth of metro stations. And one of them (Admiralteyskaya) is the deepest in Russia. In addition, most of the stations have a beautiful and original design.
As in the case of the metro in the capital, in St. Petersburg the idea of building a subway arose at the end of the 19th century. However, the development of serious projects came only in the late 1930s.
In 1941, work began on its construction. Just before Hitler attacked the Soviet Union, workers managed to lay 34 mine shafts. However, they had to be flooded in speed due to lack of funds for further construction. And in 1944, the head of construction works I.G. Zubkov.
It was possible to complete the construction of the St. Petersburg metro only after the end of World War II. The grand opening of the metro in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) took place on November 15, 1955.
Metro Museum of St. Petersburg
Metro Museum in St. Petersburg was founded in 2005. Moreover, veterans of the St. Petersburg Metro took an active part in this process. A visit to this unique museum begins with a documentary on the history of the transport system. And then the guest begins to get acquainted with the most interesting secrets and mysteries of the St. Petersburg subway.
For example, many residents of the city are interested in the question of why at the Avtovo station some columns are made of glass and others are made of marble. Museum guides will be happy to answer. It turns out that at this station all the columns had to be made of glass. However, the molds broke at the factory, and marble was used as an emergency for the manufacture of the remaining columns.
"Insanely interesting!" - That’s the way most often speak of this museum. Although some believe that this museum does not stand out among others, that you can go there once, if there’s absolutely nothing to do, admission is free. One way or another, but all visitors to the St. Petersburg metro museum agree that it is better to visit it with a guided tour. Indeed, one can learn about many interesting facts about the subway and its construction.
Conclusion
The Metro Museum in Moscow or St. Petersburg is a great place for those who are seriously interested in the features of this amazing form of transport. In these institutions, visitors can not only learn about the history of the construction of the metro in a particular city, but also hear about the secrets and mysteries of the underground world of major megacities of Russia.