This article is devoted to the Minister of Railways, S. V. Rukhlov (1852–1918), and his performance as Minister of Railways, as assessed by his contemporaries. One of the most original and energetic ministers of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, he has been overlooked by historians, yet his nearly seven-year tenure as minister had a significant impact on the development of Russian railways and their preparation for World War I. The article examines the minister’s professional qualities, his policies regarding railway personnel, his efforts to increase the speed and profitability of railways, the renewal of the railway fleet and its dependence on foreign purchases, the implementation of mobilization, and his attempts to resolve the problems caused in the transport sector during the war. It is noted that the reforms carried out by Rukhlov evoked mixed and sometimes polarized opinions. Contemporaries’ attitudes toward the minister and his performance largely depended on the political views of those evaluating him. The minister, a former leader of the Russian nationalist party, the All-Russian National Union, enjoyed the support of the Russian right and was despised by members of the liberal camp. This article draws on a wealth of source material (personal sources and periodical publications), much of which is being introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time. This publication significantly enriches our understanding of how S. V. Rukhlov and his ministerial work were perceived by his contemporaries, as well as the transportation challenges facing the country on the eve of and during World War I.