Soviet Moscow Metro

[Alfred]

Badge for building the Moscow Metro:

There are three badges dedicated for building the Moscow Metro.

(see pictures)

Short history of Moscow Metro:

The first line of moscow metro was built 1935

The second line of moscow metro was built 1938

The third line of moscow metro was built 1944

You can see the dates and the line number on the badges.

The badges were awarded to senior engineers, administrators and communist party bosses that supervised the construction, as well as NKVD officers that guarded the laborers. Sadly, as in these time common, moscow metro was

built with slave labor.

I think about 20.000 of each badge were awarded. Different badges exist. The 1935 badge with lower numbers has engraved serial numbers and different srew plates.

Today moscow metro is 269,5 km long and there are 165 stations.

Dayly 9 million passengers are transported.

In 1931 the central comitee decide to biult a metro in moscow.

Fist line 1935

work beginn : 15. Mai 1935

11,6 km long between Sokolniki and Park Kultury (red line)

Second line 1938

8,5 km long between Ploschschad Swerdlowa and Sokol (green line)

Third line 1944

7,1 km long between Kurskaja and Ismailowskij Park (blue line)

Edited August 21, 2005 by Alfred

[Chris S]

Still after the 1944 award...German POW's were used as the "slave labour" during this time...fair one...you break it you make it.

Chris

[Chris S]

The backs...made of silver....nice and chunky..

[Chris S]

The numbers

1935...5438

1938...16645

Chris

[Alfred]

The older stations are built like palces with marmor and bronze figures. The most older station have a theme. Like the revolution, the great patriotric war etc...

[Alfred]

here are the pictures from some stations. "Palaces for the working people."

Edited August 21, 2005 by Alfred

[Gerd Becker]

Andreas, most interesting. Thanks for taking the time to post this

[Alfred]

To my observation,

highest observed serial numbers,

I line - 25.924

II line - 20.618

III line - 26.183

[Alfred]

Here is a jeton to pay moscow metro from the year 1935.

[Bob Hunter]

Very interesting thread, Alfred. Thanks.

[NavyFCO]

Neat topic! I used to take the Metro to work every morning and come home in the evenings. I've got a lot of good stories from my many many rides on the metro!

I have always liked these metro worker badges... I think if I could ever find a group with one documented in it, I think I'd have to splurge and buy it!!!

Dave

[Guest Rick Research]

Igor had ONE-- literally, about 10 years ago. I've never heard of another documented one, and never seen one.

[Wild Card]

Alfred,

Although never fortunate enough to have owned one of these badges, I have always admired them very much. Thank you for an excellent presentation.

Best wishes,

Wild Card