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Early Railroads in America
"The first engines used in the United States were purchased from the Stephenson Works in England. Even rails were largely imported from England until the Civil War. Americans who had visited England to see new steam locomotives were impressed that railroads dropped the cost of shipping by carriage by 60-70%."
http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/transport/railroad.html -
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
"Baltimore, the third largest city in the nation in 1827, had not invested in a canal. Yet, Baltimore was 200 miles closer to the frontier than New York and soon recognized that the development of a railway could make the city more competitive with New York and the Erie Canal in transporting people and goods to the West. The result was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first railroad chartered in the United States."
http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp -
The Best Friend of Charleston
"In 1830, the South Carolina Canal and Rail-Road Company was formed to draw trade from the interior of the state. It had a steam locomotive built at the West Point Foundry in New York City, called The Best Friend of Charleston, the first steam locomotive to be built for sale in the United States."
On Christmas Day in 1830, the Best Friend made its debut.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp
South Carolina State Museum
http://bestfriendofcharleston.org/bestfriend-history/ -
Negative Impacts of the TR
- The building of the TR forced the relocation of Native American Tribes.
- Destroyed Natural Resurces http://gtgtechnologygroup.com/transcontinental-railroad/
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Transcontinental Railroad
"Perhaps the greatest physical feat of 19th century America was the creation of the transcontinental railroad." The Central Pacific started in San Francisco and the Union Pacific started in Omaha, Nebraska. "The two railroads met at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869, and drove a last, golden spike into the completed railway."
http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp -
Positive Social and Ecomonic Impacts of TR
- Decreased cost and time of Coast to Coast travel from $1000/6 months to $150/1 week.
- Expanded businesses and partneships
- improved access to information (mail, news)
- Hauled $50 million in freight / year http://gtgtechnologygroup.com/transcontinental-railroad/
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Rise in Passengers
195,000 miles of track
Passenger Trains popular
1. Restrooms
2. Dining
3. Sleeping Cars
4. Lounge
5. Running Water
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/early-twentieth-century-railroads1.htm -
Casey Jones
Hero who sacrificed his life by keeping one hand on the brake and one hand on the whistle to wan others near the train. Two trains collided but no passengers were killed!
http://www.biography.com/people/casey-jones-9357038#!
