Old railroad photo 001

Early Transportation

By LeoTyson13

  • First Steam Boats

    First Steam Boats
    A Scottsman named James Watt pattented the finalized version of the steamboat. Watt was the first to get the idea of using steam engines on boats. This started a whole new way of water travel.

  • First Successful Run

    First Successful Run
    After years of trail, John Fitch made the first successful run on a steamboat. His trial was on the Delaware River in front of members of the Constitutional Convention. After production these boats carried passengers between Philadelphia, Burlington and New Jersey.

  • The Clermont

    The Clermont
    Most notable early public use of steamboats was Robert Fulton's Clermont. His use of the steamboat drove from New York City to Albany. It was a 150 mile trip that took 32 hours to complete.

  • Railway Overtake

    Railway Overtake
    The steamboat was the most popular means of transportation for a while till the railways came. George Stephenson created the first steam engine capable of pulling a train car. This engine was a modified version of Watt's engine.

  • First Transcontenental Railway

    First Transcontenental Railway
    Railways all over the country were being layed. Railways were more efficient because they could be layed anywhere and could always be operational. Railways were also the quickest way of getting across the country. The transcontenental railway allowed people to get across the country to the California gold rush.