History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back At the Origins of Order: the Development and Institutionalization of Railway Technical Operation Rules in Late 19th-Century Russia Polyakova A.S. The article focuses on the process of forming unifi ed technical operation rules for railways in Russia in the late 19th century. Based on the analysis of archival documents, the author reconstructs the revision of outdated regulations initiated by the Ministry of Railways. Special attention is paid to the activities of commissions led by V.E. Ketritz and M.M. Petrovsky, as well as the role of the Engineering Council in unifying requirements for track maintenance, rolling stock, and traffic organization. The main reasons for developing the fi rst technical operation rules are examined, and it is emphasized that the changes not only resolved regulatory contradictions but also laid the foundation for the technological modernization of the industry by combining a scientific approach with practical pragmatism. The study demonstrates how the bureaucratic mechanisms of the empire responded to the challenges of industrialization, balancing standardization and flexibility to ensure railway traffic safety. Keywords: traffic safety, railways, railway transport, history of science and technology, Ministry of Railways, Technical Operation Rules. DOI: 10.25791/intstg.11.2025.1582 Pp. 20-24.