Trans-Caspian railway

Originally it served a military purpose of facilitating the Imperial Russian Army in actions against the local resistance to their rule.

However, when Lord Curzon visited the railway, he remarked that he considered its significance went beyond local military control and threatened British interests in Asia.

[1] Construction began in 1879 of a narrow-gauge railway to Gyzylarbat in connection with the Russian conquest of Transcaspia under General Mikhail Skobelev.

It was rapidly altered to the standard Russian gauge of 5 ft (1,524 mm), and construction through to Ashkabad and Merv (modern Mary) was completed under General Michael Nicolaivitch Annenkoff in 1886.

These rising trade figures were used by Governor-General Nikolai Rozenbakh to argue for the extension to Tashkent, while the merchant N. I. Reshetnikov offered private funds for the same purpose.

The railway starts at the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea at Turkmenbashi (Krasnovodsk) and heads southeast, along the edge of the Karakum Desert.

The important junction on the route and locomotive repair depot is located in Bereket city (formerly Gazandjyk) some 340 km (211 mi) to the east.