The article highlights life and work activity of Russian engineer, the scientist in the field of transport, general-lieutenant, the first Minister of Railway Transport of the Russian Empire Pavel Petrovych Melnykov (1804–1880). The main stages of his life and activity, in particular, his contribu-tion to the railway network construction in the Russian Empire, the role in the development of rail transport, in particular in the development of locomotive and car building are shown in chronological order. The scientist critically studied the best achievements of foreign scientific and technical thought and through his researches made a significant contribution to the global transport science.