Railroads

Front 1

Improvements

Back 1

The sun and planet gear was created around the 1780’s by William Murdoch but was patented by James Watt. This improved the oscillating motion of the steam engine to a rotary motion. The gear not only helped with the invention of the steam locomotive but it helped future inventions. The rolling and puddling process was created to make iron and other metals stronger, which was needed to make the steam locomotive and railroads possible.

Front 2

George Stephenson

Back 2

George Stephenson built steam locomotives, his first one the Blutcher. In 1829 he shipped a few of them to the United States and by the next year Charleston had miles of railroads. He is known as the “Father of the railway”. It went 4 miles per hour. He created and patented cast iron rails because the wooden rails would break and not work so they were useless. He also invented a miner’s lamp light.

Front 3

George Pullman

Back 3

George Pullman had the idea to have sleeper cars and dining cars, urging more people to travel by train. Started the movement to turn trains from just cargo transporters to more of a passenger way of travel.

Front 4

Nicolas Joseph Cugnot

Back 4

Nicolas Joseph Cugnot built the steam carriage so it could be used primarily to haul artillery and other goods. It was the first self propelled vehicle in the world. It only had a top speed of about two miles per hour. Also it had to stop every 4-6 times an hour to refuel. So the idea never was used.

Front 5

Effects 1.0

Back 5

Since railroads were expensive to build; people/companies couldn’t build their own railways, so they needed help from the government. This caused the government to grow in power by controlling where the railroads were to be placed. Different track sizes soon became a problem and since no company wanted to change their own size, the government had to step in. After the standard gauge size was set in, it allowed more companies the ability to travel on other companies track without crashing. The railroads allowed people to settle in areas that were previously hard to live in and connected the different areas. This connection allowed cargo to be transported more quickly and easily, thus allowing farmers to sell cash crops and instead of keeping the crops to themselves/local markets. Railroads also led to population growths by having the capabilities to quickly send supplies to those in need.

Front 6

Civil War Effects 2.0

Back 6

Railroads played a key part in the American civil war. Instead of using horses and carriages they were able to use trains to haul goods and soldiers to the frontlines which was quicker and a more efficient way of communication and travel. It made warfare on a continental scale quick and bloody. The Union had a much better network of railroads and the telegraph, which help led to their victory in the civil war. After the civil war, the Transcontinental Railroad became a big factor.