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The steam locomotive was invented in England -
The first public railway in the world was opened in England. -
The first railroad in North America — the Baltimore & Ohio — is chartered by Baltimore merchants -
The first regularly scheduled steam-powered rail passenger service in the U.S. begins operation in South Carolina, utilizing the U.S.-built locomotive “The Best Friend of Charleston.” -
U.S. mail is carried on the rails for the first time and is getting to people faster. -
It is still in business and is the oldest continuously operated railroad in the country. -
Andrew Jackson travels from Baltimore to Ellicott’s Mills, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to ride the rails. Approximately 380 miles of railroad are in operation in the U.S. -
Five of the six New England states have rail service and so do the frontier states that are Kentucky and Indiana -
More than 2,800 miles of railroad are in operation in the U.S. -
First refrigerated railcar known to have been built in the U.S. begins service when eight tons of butter were shipped from Ogdensburg, NY, to Boston.