Almost 150 years ago, the territory of modern Kaluga, Oryol, and Smolensk regions housed the Maltsovsky Industrial District, which could be called a "state within a state." This industrial area supplied the country with wagons, locomotives, rails, construction materials, grain, furniture, and timber. It had its own shipping system, separate hospitals, schools, and shelters, and even its own police. In local shops, workers paid with "Maltsov" banknotes. But how did this merchant republic come into being?

Its founder was entrepreneur Sergey Maltsov. For a long time, he served as an adjutant to Prince Oldenburg, traveled extensively in England and Germany, showing interest in railroads, and shared his impressions with Nicholas I. At one point, Maltsov even proposed to the emperor to build a railway line to India, but the conversation went no further. In 1853, inheriting a vast fortune from his father, Sergey Ivanovich decided to dedicate himself to the railway business.

Investing 2 million rubles in the construction of factories, he began to actively develop the neighboring territories. New factories emerged, and the length of the railway tracks significantly increased. Soon, the Maltsov factories began producing locomotives and wagons. However, according to contemporaries, the wagons were not comfortable: the "platzkart" was lit by a dim bulb, and the benches were covered with coarse overcoat fabric. Later, the factories started producing spring steel, which had not been manufactured in Russia before. For this, Sergey Ivanovich purchased Siemens furnaces in Europe.

Moreover, he invested in the technical equipment of his "merchant republic." All factories and offices were connected by telegraph, and later by telephone. Maltsov created a powerful industrial potential in this region. His railway operated until the 1970s, after which it was dismantled due to lack of need.