Trains

Guide Note:

A train is a powerful vehicle designed to transport people and shipments across countries by using rails laid out along the ground.

Fast Facts:

1. The first safe train was built in England in 1829 by George and Robert Stephenson
2. In 1868, railroads were built across America
3. Modern bullet trains reach speeds of 247 mph
4. U.S. freight railroads move 1.38 trillion ton-miles of freight annually

Roads of wooden rails called "Wagonways" were being used in Germany as early as 1550. They were used to help the horses move heavy wagon loads from mines. In 1776 iron had replaced the wood but horses still pulled the cars. By the early 1800s, steam engine locomotives had replaced horse pulled cars. Scottish inventor James Watt, altered Thomas Newcomen's steam engine so that it could move a wheel. In 1804 Richard Trevithick built the first steam locomotive. It was not successful. Matthew Murray followed in 1812 with the first successful steam powered locomotive.