First train on the Trans-Caucasus Railway

July 18, 1868, saw the ceremonial first train run on the Trans-Caucasus Railway between the Black Sea port of Poti and Tiflis (modern Tbilisi). This 200-mile line overcame formidable engineering challenges in the Caucasus Mountains, employing Russian broad gauge and early steam locomotives imported from Britain. Directed by engineers under Tsar Alexander II's modernization drive, it connected vital trade routes and military outposts. The project symbolized Russia's push into its southern territories, aiding cotton and oil transport while fostering cultural exchange. Its completion accelerated further expansion toward Baku, leaving a lasting legacy in regional infrastructure that persists in today's Georgian and Azerbaijani rail networks.