Engineer of Kateryninska railway M. O. Dolgov (1871–1919): impact of the development of the track management technical progress.

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to show the impact of M. O. Dolgov on the development of railway transport of Ukraine while it was under Russian influence. The main stages of his life are analyzed. The purpose of the article is to show the scientific path of M. O. Dolgov, to create the image of scientist and engineer based on the available historiographical base. To achieve this goal historical-chronological, analytic-synthetic, and biographical methods were used. It was proven that scientific works and technical devices of the engineer-scientist, that were dedicated to the various issues of the railway transport and related to the processes of the railway usage and trains movement, contain researches and experiments within the scope of the Katerynynska railway functioning. It was found out that M. O. Dolgov published a wide variety of works regarding the relevant issues of rolling stock and railway track. Overall, his researches were performed in the context of the engineering goals and tasks of the last quarter of the XIX – beginning of the XX century. Scientific work of M. O. Dolgov could be conditionally divided into six parts: 1) stability of the ground canvas; 2) problem with the subsidence of the track; 3) importance of the rail operation; 4) importance and work of the railroad ties; 5) importance of the track ballast; 6) reasons for the rocking of the steam locomotive. His scientific works considerably influenced the technical progress of railway transport. Due to them M. O. Dolgov gained recognition as a scientist and railway engineer of Katerynynska railway. In this article we also tracked the relation between M. O. Dolgov and the basics, which caused his interest to engineering, in particular under the influence of M. V. Ostrohradskyi, D. I. Zhuravskyi, M. A. Beleliubskyi, S. D. Kareisha, M. I. Lypyn, M. S. Filonenko (Ukrainian natives), and russians O. P. Borodin, P. P. Melnykov, M. O. Kraft, M. E. Zhukovskyi, and others. M. O. Dolgov is also an author of the various works dedicated to the construction of the railways, especially development of the railways infrastructure. The scientist conducted a range of experiments and created different appliances for the measuring of upper track parameters. His works were focused on strengthening the railway track. Ideas and techniques of M. O. Dolgov are used even today. They ensure the safety of movement, overall increase the bandwidth and comfort for the passengers on the railways. In his research M. O. Dolgov used the method of constant observation.