The crash of the Imperial train at Borki station, 1888. The disaster happened on October 17, old style, at 14:14, on the Kursk-Kharkov-Azov line, about 40 kilometers south of Kharkov. Alexander III and his family returned from the Crimea to St. Petersburg. The train had two locomotives and 15 cars, weighed more than 800 tons and moved at a speed of about 68 km/h - faster than the limit set for this section. On a high embankment the cars derailed and fell down the slope. 21 people died on the spot, two more died later from their wounds and dozens of passengers were injured. The imperial family survived. The greatest damage was caused by the dining car, in which Alexander III, Maria Feodorovna and their children were located during the accident. The investigation was entrusted to Anatoly Kony, the main version was excessive speed, overloading of the train and bad condition of the track. The sabotage has not been officially confirmed. The rescue of the royal family was seen as a miraculous event: churches were built in his memory in various cities of the empire, including the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Poros. Telegram | maximum.

The crash of the Imperial train at Borki station, 1888. The disaster happened on October 17, old style, at 14:14, on the Kursk-Kharkov-Azov line, about 40 kilometers south of Kharkov. Alexander III and his family returned from the Crimea to St. Petersburg. The train had two locomotives and 15 cars, weighed more than 800 tons and moved at a speed of about 68 km/h - faster than the limit set for this section. On a high embankment the cars derailed and fell down the slope. 21 people died on the spot, two more died later from their wounds and dozens of passengers were injured. The imperial family survived. The greatest damage was caused by the dining car, in which Alexander III, Maria Feodorovna and their children were located during the accident. The investigation was entrusted to Anatoly Kony, the main version was excessive speed, overloading of the train and bad condition of the track. The sabotage has not been officially confirmed. The rescue of the royal family was seen as a miraculous event: churches were built in his memory in various cities of the empire, including the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Poros. Telegram | maximum.