Railroads in the Industrial Revolution

1. Railroads in the Industrial Revolution By: Mary Clare, Susanne, and Christina

2. Who? Still today, it is hard to determine exactly who built the very first railroad in the United States as they were built all over the country at nearly the same time. The first steam-powered locomotive engine, “the Rocket,” was invented by George Stephenson, an English man. The First Transcontinental Railroad was built by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad.

3. What? The first railroads were wooden rails covered with strips of iron, which horses and mules pulled the cars along. The steam-powered locomotive engine was created to pull rail cars. The engine was called “the Rocket” and sped along at 30 miles per hour. It was much faster and much more convenient than horses and mules. The First Transcontinental Railroad was well-suited for transporting goods across the country. It was one of the very first major railroads in the U.S.

4. When? The first railroads were built in the 1800s. The first steam-powered locomotive engine was invented in 1829. In 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed. Work started in 1863 and ended in 1869. By the 1850s, railroads were all over the nation.

5. Where? It is said that the first railroad in the U.S. was in Boston, Massachusetts but is not known for sure. By 1850, steam-powered locomotive engines were used all over the United States, especially in the North and West. New York, Cincinnati and Chicago became major rail centers. The First Transcontinental Railroad connected the two major cities of San Francisco, California and Council Bluffs, Iowa.

6. Why? People made railroads to make transportation in long distances easier. Although railroads made transportation more efficient, not everyone liked the idea of it. Workers who sold horse-drawn wagons and invested in canals thought the competition from the railroads would cause them to loose their jobs.

7. Early Difficulties There were many problems with the early railroads because they weren’t always safe and reliable. There were soft roadbeds and weak bridges which sometimes lead to accidents, and locomotives often broke down. And when the locomotives did work, their smokestacks let out black smoke and hot embers which often put holes in passengers clothing and set buildings on fire. Eventually, railroad workers fixed the problems and removed the obstacles in railroads. Engineers built better bridges and solid roadbeds, and they replaced wooden rails with iron rails. These improvements made railroad travel safer and faster.