History of the Railroad Volume 1

     From the Roman tramroads to the Chinese inventor, Wang Chong, who invented the steam-powered tripping carriage, these are some of the inventions that inspired others to harness steam power.

      The Greek inventor, Hero of Alexandria, invented the Aeolipile, the forerunner to the steam engine. Designed as a party favor to entertain his friends, it was the first device to harness the power of steam. He was using it to generate motion.

      Then, James Watt, a Scottish instrument maker, invented the first steam engine. Soon after, Richard Trevithick, using Watt’s idea, developed the first steam-propelled locomotive. Followed by George Stephenson, who invented the first steam locomotive for commercial use. Along with his inventions for locomotives came his innovative ideas for railway infrastructure. Some are still standing today.

     To the Rainhill Locomotive Trials of 1829. George Stephenson and his son Robert designed and entered “The Rocket,” which blew the competition away. It also set the standards for which locomotives were designed and how they and stationary machinery are still tested today.

     Hughes then looks at the railroad's impact on the United States, from the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, which connected nations and decreased the time to travel across the continent from six months to six days. And how it sparked the Industrial Revolution. This shows how important the railroad was during the Civil War and the many more impactful ideas, inventions, innovations, and dreams that were created along the way.