Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 507 019 The Railway Tycoon of Imperial Village

When it came to recruiting workers, Count Vorontsov was naturally in charge in England. His pro-British identity made it very convenient for him to move around in London and surrounding areas.

What's more, many Scottish entrepreneurs went to Russia to do business and many of them became nobles and made a fortune there.

So, when Count Vorontsov was recruiting workers, he did not expect it to be so smooth.

When Solovyov arrived at Tsarskoye Selo, he met the first engineer who came up with a mature design.

"Richard, you are so strong, stronger than all of us officers."

"I was once the wrestling champion of Cornwall, Count."

"No wonder only a big guy like you can design a motorcycle like this."

Solovyov used some puns when he spoke. Before coming here, he had read the report from the court. Trevithick's locomotive was indeed rather bulky, and it was only after it had been tested many times at the Luhansk factory that it was allowed to be used on a small scale inside the mine.

Therefore, this type of locomotive is relatively bulky.

"But it can be improved. You can see that after using the high-pressure steam engine, as long as the safety valve is set, its reliability can be improved to some extent."

"That's right," Solovyov was quite curious about these early locomotives. After all, the trains he could see at that time, even the locomotives from the late 19th century, were already relatively mature models. These early things that looked unsafe were relatively rare. "But I heard that there was an explosion during the test in Lugansk. In addition, did your design also have an accident when it was in the UK?"

"Yes, but this is probably caused by improper operation, not the design of the vehicle."

"We also have to thank Mr. Watt. In order to protect his patent for the vacuum steam engine, he made you suffer and came to Russia. Of course, this test on the Tsarskoye Selo track should be relatively smooth. After all, the stoker you have is a Scottish worker we carefully selected. At least you will have no problem communicating with him."

"But you speak fluent English, too, Count."

"It's just that I always speak in a roundabout way. You will understand after spending more time with me. In addition, His Majesty said that if your design can be successfully implemented in Tsarskoye Selo, he will grant you the Order of Saint Vladimir of the Russian Empire and the hereditary noble status of a sixth-class civil servant."

"He was not given a title?"

"The nobles here are not necessarily hereditary nobles who are granted titles. Moreover, if your son wants to be a military engineer in the future, soldiers are hereditary nobles no matter what level they are in."

Trevithick also knew that in Russia, if one was a hereditary noble with a military status, he would usually be rewarded with estates, regardless of his background. If it were in England, without the help of his father-in-law John Harvey and the famous congressman and engineer David Guiddy, Watt's slander would have made him unable to survive.

It was somewhat unlucky that his scrapped designs were put into trial operation in Glamorgan.

Solovyov was also checking the boiler. He was the one who came up with the design of the safety valve. However, patents were not a concern in Russia. After all, the railway system was state-owned. Even now, if the first passenger railway could be put into operation smoothly, it would be used by the royal family. It was mainly a 50th birthday gift prepared by Alexander for Queen Maria.
"It's just that this can be improved. You can add a flywheel and some transmission devices. I don't know if you can do it."

“I think it will take some time, but it can be done.”

"Can you produce a sample from 1810-1811?"

What Solovyov was still thinking about was the possible war in 1812 and Russia's subsequent industrialization.

If productivity exceeds the model, it will force the disintegration of serfdom. He also feels that taking a train is more convenient and much more comfortable than a horse-drawn carriage, even though there is the sound of rails, the noisy environment, and the poor conditions inside the carriage.

"I think it's still possible, but the design needs to be adjusted. Count, are you the engineer general?"

"No, I have been an infantryman since the day I joined the army, and now I am also a major general of infantry."

"What a pity! You know a lot about mechanical engineering."

"I talked to a French engineer before, and he even made a steamship, but its sailing ability is limited. After all, sailing on the water is also afraid of strong winds."

However, Trevithick had no interest in ships. After all, his family were all mining engineers, and they were more interested in things on land, so they were willing to work on steam locomotives.

But he was not without opponents. Stephenson was also brought to Russia by Count Vorontsov, and was also in Luhansk.

But in terms of research and development order and fame, Tracywick's products were released first, and he was the first to be tested.

These British people were actually very satisfied with their lives in Russia. After all, their whole family's treatment was guaranteed. In addition, there was no guy named James Watt who used his patent for the vacuum steam engine and his first-mover advantage to manipulate the media to attack those who were latecomers.

High-pressure steam engines will also be mainstream in the future. Although Watt's design is epoch-making, we should also note that his design will only last so far. The future will still be the era of high-pressure steam engines. Otherwise, where will the power be provided?
It is spring now. Although the outside of Petersburg looks muddy, it is full of life.
That’s about it. All the royal family members came today in full force, except for Alexandra who married to Württemberg and did not choose to return home to “visit her relatives” while seeking refuge. The family was still very complete.

Queen Mother Maria was very particular about pomp and circumstance, and she doted on her daughters. Although Catherine was still her favorite, she was very happy when her two married daughters came back with grandchildren. She even took Elena's eldest son Paul Frederick to her side to show her doting.

However, Elena's complexion was not very good after she came back. After she got married, although she lived happily in Mecklenburg and her husband and parents-in-law treated her very well, she was always troubled by some illnesses. Fortunately, she was not attacked by tuberculosis, which would have been a big trouble.

For people of this era, tuberculosis is still very scary.

She was still more concerned about her brother-in-law's recent behavior. He even went to the Smolny Girls' School to chat with a female student, who happened to be Solovyov's sister. Even though she was a countess now, if they got engaged, it would be considered a marriage between the noble and the commoner. After all, the Solovyov family's title was of a relatively low rank, and this was a marriage with a gap.

But it’s not that bad. Yulia is a very lively and healthy girl, and she is very tall. She can’t be said to be a bad match - after all, her father and brother are both soldiers, and her brother is even a general now.

However, Elena also knew Solovyov’s “dark history”. After all, dressing up as a woman was her idea in the first place, but she just didn’t like playing pranks.

Maria's behavior made Elena, the smartest of the sisters, start to worry. This girl was married to Weimar, and it was inevitable that she would take too much care of Solovyov. She hoped that she would not be as ridiculous as Catherine, who recently wanted to marry Prince Mikhail Dolgorukov. She and Solovyov both had their own families.

Although, Solovyov's nickname "Flower General" is a somewhat negative evaluation.

However, judging from the fact that Solovyov hid in his home by Lake Ladoga to accompany his pregnant wife Katya, this guy was very sensible this time, but Maria was also here with her newborn daughter Mary.
I hope my third sister won't create any strange troubles on her own. She was more sensible before she got married. The train has been assembled in Tsarskoye Selo. As the project leader of the steamship and horse-drawn railcar, Solovyov must attend this event and board the steam locomotive.

If an accident occurred, he would not be too worried. As long as the boiler did not explode, given the speed of the steam locomotive, he would still have time to jump out and take safe action.

According to Alexander's request, this locomotive has two open carriages in addition to the front. It looks like the small train in children's parks or the sightseeing vehicles in amusement parks. However, considering the power of Trevithick's steam locomotive, it is just like this. There are passengers in the two carriages, and Solovyov has arranged soldiers of the Guards.

When they came here, although they felt novel, they were also full of complaints.

"That's great. The Emperor wants to see this monster, and all of us soldiers are here to be passengers."

"It would be so cool if I could ride this thing to the front line to fight the Turks in the future!"

"Good Lord, is there a horse in front of this thing, can it be started?"

"I think you should put a sail on the top, like a sailboat."

Then, the soldiers all said this, which opened Solovyov's eyes.

I have never seen the old soldiers of the Pu Regiment like this all day long before. Now, probably because they have encountered this "devil's stuff", they are feeling inspired and complaining no less than his uncle's "complaining soldiers".

As for seeing the former chief battalion commander, some veterans even greeted him.

"Hey, little battalion commander, you're already a general, why are you still hanging out with soldiers like us?"

"I made great efforts to build this steam car. Now it has to be performed in front of the emperor. No matter what, I have to do it."

"That's right. The emperor is willing to use you because you are so smart. Other masters are not like you. They are educated and can fight."

"Okay, stop talking and go to your seats."

"Oh, this carriage is pretty good. We soldiers have never ridden in a horse-drawn carriage, but we are riding in a carriage pulled by this 'iron monster'."

Up ahead, Trevithick was still adding coal and preparing to start.

However, it does take some time to heat up his boiler from a cold state.

Some veterans were still muttering, thinking that this thing was no better than the small boat that the "young battalion commander" had tinkered with before, and might not be able to sail.

Then, I was startled by the sound of the whistle.

These veterans came up with their weapons and pointed their rifles at the front of the car.

"What kind of devilish voice is this!"

"It's the whistle of a locomotive. You haven't seen it yet. You'll get used to it in the future. It's not the sound of the devil. When you make tea, look at the kettle. What does it look like when the water is boiling?"

"So that's it! I'm so scared. We soldiers are lucky to be born at this time. The emperor even lets us ride in this car pulled by the 'devil'. Little battalion commander, your name means angel. Could it be that you have tamed the devil to serve the emperor?"

The topic could not be diverted and returned to the theme of "the devil".

Queen Mothers Alexander and Maria sat in the center of the viewing stand, Louisa and several young ladies were at the back, Grand Duke Constantine was on one side with his guards, and Nicholas and Mikhail were at the Queen Mother's side with their nephews.

"Look, the steam train is moving!"

It was Nicholas who first noticed the white steam rising from the steam locomotive. Everyone was observing the movement of the vehicle with binoculars or theater glasses.

The steam locomotive began to move slowly, coming towards the viewing stand with white steam smoke.

"Richard, no need to add more coal. Just keep going at this speed. After we pass the Tsar's position, we can prepare to stop at the station."

Solovyov said this to Trevithick, and he understood what he meant. There was no need to drive too fast anyway. The trip to Tsarskoye Selo was also a demonstration to allow the royal family to understand the benefits of steam locomotives.

Therefore, the British engineer also took action himself, and for the sake of safety he also found more skilled drivers and firemen to come to St. Petersburg.

The operation of the train was relatively successful. Several veteran soldiers of the regiment who had just been shouting "devil" now began to whistle and sing.

By the way, they didn't forget to tease the Turks while singing the group song.

"If you ask me, let's send this thing to Moldavia and run it in front of the Turks. They'll probably think it's the devil and run away!"

However, these few people just expressed it this way.

Solovyov was quite satisfied, but he was also worried about one thing, that is, the railway mileage would definitely not keep up. It would be impossible to build railways connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow to all parts of Russia within a few years. Moreover, the reliability of early steam locomotives was also worrying.

The train was now moving fast enough, passing in front of the viewing platform at the standard speed of a horse-drawn carriage.

Alexander was very satisfied after seeing this, and had already prepared medals and awards to be awarded to those who had made contributions.

(End of this chapter)