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The Development of the Railroad In 1556 Georgius Agricolas book De re metallica mentioned the first idea of a railroad It was a very primitive mining railway that operated using wooden poles as tracks and small carts to move soil Similar systems of operation were used in factories and lumber mills until they were replaced by cast-iron rails and the development of a locomotive capable of hauling heavy loads by Richard Trevithick in 1804 However it wasnt until 1825 with the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England during the start of the Industrial Revolution that steam-powered freight and passenger service really started to become a major factor in industrial development Like so much of present day society the railroad as we know it was a product of the industrial revolution This revolution depended on a source of power for the new machines being developed Initially running water was used to turn paddle wheel but as factories became larger and more numerous more power was needed and new sources of power became necessary As a result steam became more widely used With the invention of Thomas Newcomens steam powered pump developed for removing water from mines and James Watts greatly improved Newcomens engine a new powerful steam engine was born Although it is sometimes suggested by historians that the railroad was developed in America due to many other inventions which came about during the same time period the railroad was really a result of an industrial need In 1804 Richard Trevithick a reputable engine builder developed a vehicle driven by a steam powered engine The vehicle was primitive but utilized many innovations that are still in use today As the industrial revolution went on America began to refine the steam locomotive Eventually they became the leaders of the railroad world Setting the stage for development Most of the first industrial transportation in Russia took place using its river system The
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