The Foundation of Trains
Train
A Locomotive
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Since their inception, Trains have revolutionized transportation, connecting distant areas, fostering economic growth, and shaping the course of history. By tracing their history from from the early steam-powered locomotives to the advanced high-speed trains of today, we gain a deeper understanding of their transformative power in the world.
'Train' comes from a French verb that meant ''to draw; drag.'' It originally referred to the part of a gown that trailed behind the wearer. The word train has been part of English since the 14th century-since its Middle English Days.
Steam Engines
Till the invention of steam engines, the industries had relied on energy harnessed from wind, water, animals such as horses and manpower to operate small machines. Earlier, wood was burnt to produce fuel. This changed when Britain discovered that it had rich deposits of coal. The steam engine that was built to pump out the water from coal mines later helped run a variety of transport services such as ships, railways locomotives, and factories, which vastly improved transportation on land and water
In 1698
Thomas Savery patented a steam engine that he called the 'the miner's friend'; it helped solve problems related to mine drainage and increased the public water supply. It was a pump with hand-operated valves. Steam from a boiler was condensed in a cylinder, creating a vaccum that sucked water from the mines into it. By controlling valves, the water was pumped upward using the same steam. It generated about one horsepower (HP), but was ineffective to boiler explosions.
The Newcomen Steam Engine in Dartmouth
In 1712
Englishman Thomas Newcomen's steam engine called Newcomen Atmospheric Machine caused a slight vaccum in the cylinder when cold jets of water condensed the steam. A piston was used in the process. The engine was large and used at the bottom of a mine, but it only produced five HP and used up a lot of coal. Still, when he passed away in 1933, 110 engines were found to be operational in France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Sweden.
James Watt patent steam engine
in 1848 at Freiberg, Germany
In 1776
Scottish inventor James Watt altered Newcomen's invention to produce steam. He added a separate condenser to his engine to prevent the heating and cooling of the cylinder. Watt's steam engine could rotate a shaft instead of the simple up-and-down motion of the pump. It generates 5-10 HP. By 1800, his company had built 496 engines that were used to power machinery, locomotives, ships, distilleries, canals, waterworks, paper, flour, cotton, and iron mills.
In 1804
British engineer Richard Trevithick built the first railway steam locomotive-the Penydarren locomotive-which undertook it's first journey on 21 February 1804. It's 5 wagons carried 10 tons of iron and 70 men, and it travelled at a speed of 3.9 kmph (2.4 mph). It was used to haul iron from Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon, Wales.
The 1790s and 1800s were known for 'Canal Mania' as canal-building began and Britain invested a lot of money in building these waterways. By 1850, Britain had about 4,000 miles of canals These helped transport coal, which was in high demand, from mines to factories. Horse-driven wagons were used to reach the waterways. The wagons were fitted with a steam engine to help push them over inclines, but this was rather a slow process. Then, in the 1840s, 'Railway Mania' began Railroad construction in America boomed from the 1830s to the 1870s. European countries too followed Britain in building railroads (Belgium in 1834, France in 1842, Switzerland in 1847, and Germany in the 1850s). Perishable goods such as dairy products could now be transported across long distances without getting spoilt.
In 1767, Richard Reynolds made a wooden set of rails for transporting coal from Coalbrookdale. The first act to create a 'railway' was passed by parliament in 1801. Till this point, horse-driven carts were used to pull coal. Then, in 1801, Richard Trevithick developed the first steam locomotive to be driven on roads.
George Stephenson built the first steam-hauled public railway, the Stockton to Darlington railway, hoping to derail the monopoly of the canal owners, in the year 1821. The 40 kilometre long railroad connected coal mines at Shildon in North England to nearby towns, and to Stockton and Darlington
The Bridgewater Canal's owner initially opposed the building of a railway at Manchester, nonetheless the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened in 1830. Seeing great potential for future passenger travel, the railways gradually created a permanent staff. In the same year, major railway lines were installed to connect big cities and towns.
Canal companies rose to the challenge and reduced their prices, but industrialists sided with the railways, and from 1835-48 there was a massive boom in the creation of railways. In fact, a standardised time was introduced across the country so that trains could be timetabled, making Britain one of the first few countries to do so.
Following their successful implementation in Britain, railways quickly gained popularity worldwide. By the mid-19th century, railway systems were constructed in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Notably, in the United States, the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 marked a significant milestone in the country's westward expansion, connecting the East and West coasts.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, numerous technological advancements transformed the world of trains. The development of steel rails, the introduction of the air brake system, and the implementation of the telegraph for communication along the tracks greatly enhanced safety and efficiency. Additionally, the rise of electricity-powered trains and the use of diesel engines in the 20th century further revolutionized the industry.
In recent decades, high-speed trains have emerged as a pinnacle of technological achievement in the transportation sector. Countries such as Japan, France, and China have led the way with high-speed rail networks, revolutionizing travel times and connectivity. The Shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan, introduced in 1964, set new standards of speed, safety, and comfort, serving as a model for subsequent high-speed rail systems worldwide. These advancements have transformed long-distance travel, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel.
White-collar workers moved out of cities and went to live in the suburbs because it was now possible to commute back and forth. Working-class districts were demolished for new rail buildings. In 1844, the British government passed a law stating that third- class accommodation would be allowed on at least one train a day travelling in each direction. The fare for each of these third-class passengers was not to exceed a penny for each mile travelled.
The advent of railways had a profound impact on various aspects of society. Trains facilitated the movement of people, promoting cultural exchanges, tourism, and leisure travel. Additionally, railways influenced urban planning, with cities growing around strategically located rail stations. The accessibility provided by trains also revolutionized the postal system and the delivery of goods, fostering trade and strengthening economies.
Facts
1. The longest train station name :
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – you'll find this remarkable train station in Wales in the UK. Exactly 58 letters long, the station serves the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and roughly translates as St Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio near the red cave in English. As it turns out, the name has no historic significance and is a marketing gimmick from the 1880s to attract tourists that stuck.
2. Hogwarts Express in Real Life :
Dubbed Britain's most scenic train route, the West Highland Line runs from the Scottish city of Glasgow to Fort William before continuing its journey towards the port of Mallaig. After a brief stop in Fort William, the train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the same bridge the Hogwarts Express crosses in the Harry Potter films. What's more, the Jacobite Steam Train was used as the Hogwarts Express in the films and is available to ride during the summer months (roughly April to October).
3. World First Travel Agent :
The expansion of railways in the UK is what inspired businessman Thomas Cook to create the world's first travel agent. He ran his first trip on 5 July 1841, escorting around 500 people to a teetotal rally in Loughborough from Leicester. After organising tours of the UK and Europe for World's Fairs, Cook set up shop on Fleet Street in 1865 and began offering travel services. Pictured is a train ready to leave London Victoria on a Thomas Cook holiday to Italy in March 1937.
4. Countries Without Railways :
Although many countries without a railway system are island nations (like Tonga) or among the smallest countries in the world (like San Marino) others, like Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, all lack a railway network mostly because the transport systems there are highly dominated by roads. Others like Malta and Cyprus used to have train lines, but they closed as they proved to be financially unsustainable. Iceland doesn't have a public railway system either, mostly due to harsh weather, however, plans have been made to build a high-speed airport railway.
5. Highest Railway Bridge in the World :
In construction since 2004, this remarkable bridge across the Chenab river in India is set to soon become the world's highest. Suspended 1,178 feet (359m) above the river – that's 98 feet (30m) higher than the Eiffel Tower – the railway line crossing the bridge will connect Kashmir and Kanyakumari. The full length of the bridge is 1,532 feet (1,315m) and is surely going to make for a spine-tingling ride.
6. Orient Express :
Introduced in 1883, the Orient Express was a luxurious train service that connected Paris to Istanbul. It became an iconic symbol of luxury travel, catering to affluent passengers and even inspiring novels and films.
7. America's Oldest :
America’s oldest operating railroad, the Strasburg Rail Road first puffed off the buffers in 1832. Today it takes its passengers on a whistle-stop tour through Pennsylvanian Amish country. Four steam locomotives still pull original rolling stock on the 45-minute round trip to and from Paradise, and an audio commentary dispenses nuggets of knowledge on the nation’s oldest continuously operating short line railway
8. Largest Railway Network :
You might be surprised to hear that the US has the largest railway network in the world, and by a large margin. With a total route length over 155,342 miles (250,000km), it's two-and-a-half times longer than the second-largest network in China. It's the US freight rail network that makes up 80% of the staggering length while passenger rail, run by Amtrak, is comprised of more than 30 train routes connecting 500 destinations across 46 American states
9. Fastest Train :
Travelling at a mind-boggling speed, Shanghai's maglev (magnetic levitation) train is the fastest passenger train in the world. With a spine-tingling operational speed of 267mph (430km/h), the train connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Longyang Road Station in the outskirts of Pudong. Travelling at an average speed of 143mph (230km/h), the 19-mile-long (30km) journey can be completed within eight minutes.
10. Longest and Deepest Railway Tunnel :
Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is not only the longest but also the deepest railway tunnel in the world. It runs for 35.5 miles (57km) with a maximum depth of 8,040 feet (2,450m) – that’s eight times the height of The Shard in London. The tunnel provides a high-speed link under the Swiss Alps between central and southern Europe
From their humble beginnings as steam locomotives to the cutting-edge high-speed trains of today, railways have experienced a remarkable journey. Trains have not only facilitated the movement of goods and people but have also contributed to economic growth, urban development, and cultural exchange. As we continue to innovate and improve railway systems, it is vital to recognize and appreciate their historical significance and ongoing contributions to global transportation.
The history of trains is a testament to human ingenuity and its ability to transform transportation, trade, and society at large
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