The question of time, which today seems simple and obvious, was significantly more complex in the past. In the modern world, thanks to the system of time zones, we can easily determine the time in any corner of the country, knowing only the hour difference. However, if we were to travel back 130 years, the situation would be completely different. In those times, for example, in Moscow and Novosibirsk, which was then called Novonikolaevsk, the time could differ significantly. In one city, the clock would show 12:20, while in the other, it could be 16:55 or even 17:30. Noon occurred at different times, and this was the norm.

The reason for such time differences lay in the absence of a unified system of timekeeping and time zones. Until 1919, each locality independently determined its time, and even neighboring cities could differ by tens of minutes. The main method of determining time was by observing the Sun, which was used to set the city clocks. Official local time was used for ringing bells and cannons, which served as a reference for the townspeople.

Gradually, the country began to move towards time unification. In 1880, Moscow and its surroundings adopted Moscow mean time, based on the solar time of a specific meridian. In St. Petersburg, they relied on the time from the Pulkovo meridian, which played an important role in eliminating time desynchronization. This time became the basis for establishing a unified railway time across the country.

Railways turned out to be a key factor in the process of time unification. It was vital for them to have clear schedules, as differences in local time could lead to significant disruptions on long routes. It was on the railways that the unified Petersburg time was first introduced, which was used by engineers and dispatchers. Passengers also oriented themselves to this 'railway time,' even if it differed from the local time.

In 1919, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a decree introducing the international system of time zones, which was an important step in time unification. The country was divided into zones, within which the time became unified, starting from the Greenwich meridian. This decision allowed for the elimination of time discrepancies and simplified life for citizens, providing a more accurate and consistent determination of time across the country.