New Google Doodle Celebrates 100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway

Wednesday’s Google Doodle celebrates the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was built by Russian Tsar Alexander III between 1891 and 1916.

The railway, which was completed on Oct. 5 1916, allowed passengers and cargo to travel from Western Russia all the way to the Pacific Ocean in just seven days, and is still critical to Russia’s trade with Europe and China today. The railway traverses 5,772 miles and crosses seven timezones between Moscow and Vladivostok.

The centennial doodle was created by Google’s art director Matt Cruickshank who traveled the railway in April 2015, drawing scenes of Russian cities and countryside along his way.

“I felt compelled to echo the visual strength of Russian graphics coupled with a folk art style,” Cruickshank said on the doodle’s web page.

Google also commemorated the completion of this masterpiece in Russian engineering through a short film featuring Cruickshank’s art accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48, II. Waltz as performed by the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.