Russia's Railway Centenary.

Europe this year is celebrating yet another railway centenary—that of the Russian lines. Russia's pioneer system was the Tsarskoye-Selo Railway, linking the Czar's summer residence with St. Petersburg. Five years later there was commenced the construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg line. In 1914, the total length of the Russian and Manchurian railways was 38,650 miles. To-day, the official mileage figure is given as 52,900. Most of the lines are steam operated, although there are about 1,000 miles of electrified track in use, an outstanding electrification being that in the Moscow area.

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