Miron Efimovich Cherepanov

About museum

Yefim Alekseyevich Cherepanov came from serf peasants of the Demidov Vyysky plant and showed himself as a talented mechanic from an early age. At sixteen he became a «mekhovoy master», and then, in 1807, the «dam master» of the same plant. His engineering skills manifested in the construction of rolling mills at the Nizhne-Turinsk plant and a metal lifting machine at the Mednorudyansky mine. From 1822 until his death in 1842, Yefim Cherepanov served as the chief mechanic of all the Nizhny Tagil factories. 

His son, Miron Efimovich Cherepanov, was educated at home and at the age of twelve was already working as a clerk at the Vyysky plant. He later trained under his father and in 1819 became his assistant. Together they created the "Vyysky Mechanical Establishment" – a machine-building plant where they produced various machines and mechanisms, including the first steam engine with a power of four horsepower. 

In 1825 Yefim, and in 1833 Miron, went abroad to study advanced technologies: the father to Sweden, the son to England. Upon their return they built the first locomotive in Russia, later improving it and increasing its power. They also constructed Russia's first cast-iron railway, opened in 1834. After his father's death in 1842 Miron continued the work and created several powerful steam engines, including a 60-horsepower engine for the Novo-Anatolsk mine. Miron Efimovich Cherepanov died in 1849.