The Presidential Library is looking for evidences of an invention of the tram in St. Petersburg

For the first time in the world, a trial run of the tram was leaded in St. Petersburg. The company managing city electrical transportations “Gorelectrotrans” along with the Presidential Library began to look for the evidences of this.

“In 1880, it was in Russia where the first tryouts were carried out. As often happens, their results have been “put on ice,” nevertheless the proofs await somewhere in the archives. Together with the Presidential Library we will find them,” — Director of State Unitary Enterprise “Gorelectrotrans” Vasily Ostryakov stated during his visit to the Presidential Library. As it was pointed out, owing to the experiment of St. Petersburg based engineer Fyodor Apolonovich Pirotsky, for the first time in the world, as the newspapers wrote at the time, “the car was moved by electric power.” It happened in Degtyarny Alleyway near Suvorovsky Prospekt, and this territory today could become a place of attraction for the city residents, tourists and the admirers of environmentally friendly transport.

During a meeting with General Director of the Presidential Library Alexander Vershinin, the main theme of discussion was a development of the projects according to the cooperation agreement between the institutions signed in June 2017. While the event of 1880 has not been officially formalized, “Gorelectrotrans” on September 29 will celebrate with St. Petersburg’s guests and residents the 110th anniversary of launching the first electric tram in former capital of the country. On this occasion, the Presidential Library will organize a public video lecturing of the “Knowledge of Russia” series, involving scientists, researchers, and local historians. In addition, the first in Russia national electronic library will create on its website a special section dedicated to the history of tram transportations. This selection will include historical evidences focused on experiments of St. Petersburg local engineer Fyodor Pirotsky on Degtyarny Alleyway where “for the first time the car was moved by electric power.”

The Presidential Library plans to take part in the awarding ceremony for the winners of the IV City Children's Drawing Competition named “Trams and trolleybuses in the city on the Neva,” which is held annually in the Museum of City Electrical Public Transportations. Kids party will take place in the last days of August shortly before the upcoming school year.

Cooperation between the Presidential Library and St. Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise “Gorelectrotrans” is actively developing. In early 2017, the staff employees of the Museum of the City Electrical Public Transportations handed over to the Presidential Library some materials for the exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Revolution, and the same agreement on cooperation between the Presidential Library and the St. Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise “Gorelectrotrans” was concluded in June. In July, the Presidential Library offered the organization unique materials on the history of streetcar-tram service from the library fund for the Museum of City Electrical Public Transportations.