RC Cars, Collectible Model Train
Sets, Collectible Model Cars & More
Tips About Trains & Model Trains
The History of Trains
Today you see trains carrying cargo and people all over the
world. They are also used as efficient ways for people to
commute to and from work instead of using the roadways. Looking
at the efficiency of trains today, it is sometimes hard to
imagine how different they were back in the 1800’s. While many
different inventors attempted to create a train in the last
1700’s they weren’t successful.
In 1825 the first locomotive was successful in its attempt to
safely transport people from two points in England. The
popularity of this mode of transportation quickly made its way
to the United States in 1830. It wasn’t long before the
industrial revolution was born since trains could be used to
transport materials faster and easier than ever before. By 1833
there were 380 miles of railroad tracks in the United States.
Today there are more than 300,000 miles of track around the
United States.
The United States government made good use of the trains during
the Civil War to move troops to new locations and to get them
supplies. This was the main reason behind adding more miles of
railroad tracks from 1861 to 1865. By the end of the war there
were more than 30,000 miles of track available.
By this time railroads were considered to be the main means of
transportation. Plans were in place to continue building faster
locomotives and to clear areas for more tracks to be put into
place. These early trains were powered by coal and steam. This
process of expansion in the railway industry continued into 1916
with more than 250,000 miles of track laid out in the United
States.
One of the most historical locations along these miles of
railroad tracks is in Utah, and identified by a spike made from
pure gold. This was to celebrate the completion of the first
transcontinental railroad. This particular location was the
connecting point between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
Railroads. This remains a historical site today with thousands
of people visiting the very location of that golden spike.
Even with all the miles of railroad tracks by 1916, many of them
are in poor condition. It is not uncommon for many trails to
derail due to these conditions. Private owners of the railroads
have invested so much money in expansion they can’t afford the
repairs.
The repairs that do get done are the result of the United States
government needing to repair them in order to move men and
supplies during World War I. Even so, the growth of the railroad
is significantly slowed forever around 1940. The Great
Depression has made it difficult for the railroads to survive.
There is also competition now with automobiles being
manufactured.
Yet the railroad industry sees renewed life in the late 1950’s
when the retired steam powered locomotives and replace them with
diesel engines. In 1970 the United States government steps in
again to take control of Amtrak. They still oversee it today but
most of the miles of track that they operate on belong to other
railway companies.
With modern technology, trains are able to operate more
efficient today than ever. They are used to transport large
amounts of merchandise, food supplies, equipment, hazardous
materials, and even people. Trains offer a great way to get
items delivered efficiently without having to place more of a
burden on the trucking industry. Many travelers enjoy the
convenience of taking a train instead of driving themselves or
riding in an airplane.
There have been plenty of advances in the area of trains and the
railway industry in the last 100 years. It will be interesting
to know how things change over the next 100 years. Luckily there
are wonderful train museums that take the time to preserve all
of the history of trains from the beginning. This way future
generations will be able to look back on it as well.
For more information about
model trains checkout- "Model Trains for Beginners and
Insiders Club"- Click Here!
Model Train Layout Ideas, Tips, and Answers-Click Here!