Railroad

Railroads are paths of parallel metal rails that allow a wheeled vehicle to move more easily by reducing friction. Iron rails were first used in the early 1800s to guide horse-drawn wagons. After the invention of the steam locomotive in 1804, steam engines replaced horses as the primary means of power. Modern locomotives commonly use electric motors or diesel engines and pull long trains of passenger or freight cars.

The benefits of rail transportation in both speed and carrying capacity made it superior to other methods of transportation in the 1800s. In the United States and Canada, with their vast expanses of territory, the railroad became a major means of cross-country transportation.

Railroad at present

In many countries, rail continues to be the main mode of passenger travel. In Europe and Japan, major cities are connected by high-speed passenger trains, such as the French TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) and the Japanese Shinkansen trains, popularly known as bullet trains. The Shinkansen train can reach speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph).

Railroads have had a profound impact on civilization. Most importantly, the efficiency and speed of rail travel allow a nation’s population, industry, and agriculture to be established throughout that nation’s territory, even in previously remote areas. Rail transportation has also played a significant role in urban transportation systems

by : Michael D. Meyer
source picture : ushistoryimages.com