The article is devoted to the analysis of the poetic works of the Russian authors of the middle 19th century, who published in Sovremennik [The Contemporary; the literary and socio-political magazine founded in 1836] and extensiv ely reviewed the topic of construction of railways in the Russian Empire. Citing selected fragments of works of A. S. Pushkin, N. A. Nekrasov, N. A. Dobrolyubov, A. A. Fet, Ya. P. Polonsky, helps to present the socio-economic analysis of the problems associated with construction of first railways in Russia, as they were seen by Sovremennik authors. The conclusion is made that Sovremennik authors regarded the topic of construction and operation of railways as one of the most socially significant and promising. Editorial note. Instead of a review of a scientific or educational edition traditionally suggested under that heading we publish the original analysis of the works of Russian writers and poets of 19th century made from the point of view of the history of transport and particularly of socio-economic aspects of its development. The publication might confirm the importance of transport industry, that enjoyed widespread attention two centuries ago, as it does it nowadays.

The article considers the problem of seasonal uneven transportation and its impact on transport infrastructure loading. The objective of the study is to develop scientifically sound recommendations for monitoring seasonal unevenness of transportation and infrastructure loading based on its adequate assessment; conducting economic assessment of the impact of seasonality of transportation on the indicators of current and investment activity of railway transport; making recommendations to further reduce unevenness of transportation, or at least prevent its growth. The authors solved the following tasks: a reasoned, logically structured sequence of economic assessment of the impact of seasonality of transportation on the indicators of current and investment activities of railway transport was formed, and scientifically based recommendations were proposed to further reduce uneven transportation (toprevent its growth). The following methods were used: logical and analytical tools, methods of statistical analysis, economic-mathematical modelling and technical and economic calculations. As a result of the study, the authors revealed that seasonal uneven loading of railway infrastructure leads to a decrease in quality of transportation and a deterioration in the market image of the railway industry, an increase in operating costs and cost of transportation, that is, to a decrease in efficiency and competitiveness of railways. The uneven transportation negatively affects the effectiveness of investments in development of railway transport. The analysis made it possible to formulate a theoretical model of influence of seasonal unevenness of railway infrastructure loading on efficiency of its use and development. It is advisable to use the methodological toolkit for assessing seasonal unevenness of railway infrastructure loading for its in-depth retrospective analysis, identifying the main factors affecting unevenness indicators and determining the maximum permissible level of seasonal unevenness. The developed model of influence of seasonal unevenness of loading on use and development of railway infrastructure allows to carry out economic assessment of seasonal unevenness, is a tool to improve planning and management of transportation activities and development of railways. The reduction in seasonal unevenness of transportation should be considered as a factor increasing the economic efficiency of not only the current, but also investment activity of the railway transport, while its growth should be considered as a specific type of risk for effectiveness of implementation of railway infrastructure development projects.

The article, consisting of two parts, studies historical and economic aspects, physical infrastructure and technological basis of emergence, formation, and evolutionary development of inland transport infrastructure. In contrast to water and air transport, land transport, due to its linkage to a certain territory, developed in a very restrained and nonlinear manner. Its infrastructure, represented by the simplest paths and roads, of course, played a certain economic role, but until 18th–19th centuries was not considered as the basis for regular advance and exchange of goods. In different parts of the world, the infrastructure of land transport developed differently which was largely due to the prevailing socio-economic institutions. For many centuries, the technical condition of the inland transport infrastructure and its economic importance have not undergone any significant changes. Therefore, the end of the medieval era and a significant breakthrough in development of land transport are interdependent processes. The emergence of an era of economic growth, including development of international trade and an increase in social welfare, would not have been possible without a wellfunctioning land transport system. Nevertheless, land transport until the beginning of 19th century was not associated with a reliable, fast, and regular medium of exchange and travel. Only with the advent of railways the situation changed radically. Paved roads were also developing. From this moment land transport and its infrastructure has become the basis of the dynamic economic activity of society.

The second part of the article (the first of which was published in the last issue of the journal) analyses the history of emergence of the rail track, as well as evolution of the railway-track substructure, including a review of the materials used for this.A separate section is devoted to evolution of railways in Russia.Brief conclusions are made regarding the importance of the historical and economic aspects of development of inland transport infrastructure.The importance of considering this issue is quite high when conducting comprehensive research intended to get economic assessment and forecast the strategic development of transport infrastructure.

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