Railroads


A History of Transportation
Moving Goods and People
Principles of TDL
c4A
The earliest systems in the history of rail transport
can be traced to wagonways in Greece around 600
BC.

These wagonways consisted

of channels that guided the
wheels of the cart or wagon.

The first wagonway
was the Diolkos wagonway
which was used
for 650 years.
 Other Early Tracked
Roads
German “Hunds” – also known as tub rails used in
mining in the 1500’s.

 Key to Success of
Railroads
 Railroads reduce friction which allow greater
loads to be moved with less energy.


 Bulk dense goods can be
moved more efficiently and
cost effectively.
 First True Railways
Pre-1605 James Clifford used a funicular in
Shropshire, England to move coal.
George Stephenson in Great Britain created the

first successful steam locomotive.
 Economics of Early
Rail
 Early railroads in England dropped the cost of
shipping by 60 – 70%


 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad raised $4,000,000
to fund construction in 12 days in 1827.
 Trans-Continental
Railroad
 Pacific Railroad Act of 1862.

 Central Pacific and Union Pacific Companies build a
transcontinental railroad to connect the US from
east to west.
 Built in 7 years.
 Joined in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869.
 Effects of the
Transcontinental Rail
 Opened the east coast markets to the west coast and
Asian trade.
 $50 million dollars of freight shipped in first 10 years.
 Connected the US – people could travel the length of
the country in days.

 Opened the mid-portion of the US to settlement.
 Provided better postal service
to the west.
 Provided resources for
mapping the west.
 Golden Age of Railroad
1878-1945
1880 – 17,800 freight locomotives and 22,200 passenger
locomotives in the US.
1883 – Standard time Zones were adopted by the
railroad.

1916 – US had 230,468.32 miles of track.
1917 – Railroads nationalized during World War I
1940’s – World War II
brings highest ridership in
US History as trains are
used to transport soldiers.
 Railroads of Today
 $60 Billion industry
 140,000 rail miles
 221,000 jobs (2012)


Accounts for 40% of US freight transport
 What do Trains Move?
Agricultural products - grain, cooking oil, livestock
Energy products – crude oil, coal, diesel
Automobiles and automobile components
Construction materials
Chemicals

Equipment
Food
Metals
Minerals
Paper
Manufactured Goods
 The Future of Rail
 Rail is more efficient for shipping goods.
Rail fuel efficiency has improved by 20% since 1990.
 The ability to “double-stack” shipping containers
increases efficiency.


 One double-stacked train can replace 300 trucks and
save over 75,289 gallons of fuel.
 Computer technology and rail expansion will enhance
rail transport.
 
Texas Education Agency © 2015

Principles of TDL 4A