Ex. 30. Answer the following questions. 1) When were the first projects of the railway construction proposed? 2) Why was it necessary to connect the two capitals in Russia? 3) Whose project of construction was accepted? 4) Why were Melnikov and Kraft sent to America? 5) When did the construction begin? 6) How long did the construction last? 7) Why was it difficult to build the railway? 8) What was built to make the line as straight as possible? 9) Is there any legend about the construction? 10) What were the rails and sleepers made of? 11) What equipment was used for the construction? 12) What was done to facilitate the workers' labor? 13) When was the railway officially opened for public traffic? 14) What time did the first train depart from St. Petersburg and arrive in Moscow? 15) How many passengers were there in the first train? 16) What was its speed? 17) What plant was established to provide this railway with rolling stock?

1) The first projects of the railway construction were proposed between 1804 and 1829. 2) In order to have a transport communication between two largest cities, as it was the most profitable route according to surveys. 3) Melnikov's report about the results of the trip to America laid down the basis of the future railway project. 4) Melnikov and Kraft were sent to the USA for the purpose of studying experience gained by the Americans in constructing and operating the railways. 5) The construction began in 1843. 6) The construction lasted 8 years. 7) It was difficult to build the railway because of severe climatic and difficult geological conditions. 8) 185 bridges and 19 viaducts were built to make the line as straight as possible. 9) There is a legend that the route of the railway was chosen by the tsar Nikolay I, who took the map and the ruler, drew a straight line between the two cities on the map and ordered this line to be the route of the railway. 10) Only domestic materials, including timber for sleepers and cast iron for rails were used. 11) The main tools were spades and axes, moreover four excavators were bought. 12) In order to facilitate the workers' labor, four excavators were bought. 13) The railway was officially opened for public traffic on November 1, 1851. 14) The first train departed from St. Petersburg at 11.15 and arrived in Moscow 21 hours 45 minutes later. 15) There were 17 passengers in the first-class cars, 63 - in the second-class cars and 112 - in the third-class cars. 16) The speed of the first trains was 40 km/h. 17) The Alexander Engineering Works was established in St. Petersburg to provide this railway with locomotives and cars.