Transport Engineers and the Making of Socialist Public Transit System in Petrograd-Leningrad, 1920-1930s

Current thesis is devoted to the making of socialist urban public transit system in Petrograd – Leningrad throughout 1920s and 1930s from the perspective of late Imperial transport engineers. Using the concept of “large technological systems” created by Thomas P. Hughes, the author discusses such system elements as its individual and institutional builders, reverse salients, solutions, conflicts of interests, users, planning, and control. System culture transferred by the engineers into research and management of urban transport as well as momentum that originated during the development of network before 1917 ensured the continuity between Imperial and Soviet eras of passenger conveyance evolution in the city. Socialist public transit system was created with consideration of tendencies in urban planning yet did not imply a single intractable concept. The essence of the system was defined by such features as coordination, order, connection between key destinations, high velocity of transportation, safety, and convenience for passengers.