[1] Nikolai Tikhomirov was born 30 June (12 July New Style) 1857 in Vyatka, Vyatka Governorate, Russian Empire (today Kirov, Kirov Oblast, Udmurt Republic).

On the West Siberian Railway, under Konstantin Mikhaylovsky he participated in the construction of the bridge across the Ishim River near Petropavl and the Kargat-Krivoshokovo section of line.

Grigory Moiseevich Budagov was chief engineer of the project, which was completed in February 1897.

He was buried near the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, but was later reburied at Zayeltsovskoye Cemetery.

Tikhomirov and his wife, Maria Ananieva, were the parents of a son, Alexander, and two daughters, Tatiana and Olga.