While the railroad was an important form of transportation in the United States, it was actually created in Great Britain.
We wouldn't have the railroads we have today without the creation of the steam engine. The steam engine was first created by Thomas Newcomen and James Watt in 1705. A steam engine uses the pressure of boiling water to power something. When Newcomen and Watt first created the steam engine, it was used to pump water out of mines. Later, it was adapted to be used as the main source of power for trains; which can be seen in the image above.
This image, from How Stuff Works, shows us how steam engines work. A furnace, or something used for heating, is used to heat water which causes steam to be released. This steam causes pressure that is used to power the train engine. |
Dictionary.com- locomotive. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/locomotive
History of rail transport in great britain. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Great_Britain (Image of British locomotive)
How steam engines work. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/steam.htm (Image of steam engine)
History of rail transport in great britain. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Great_Britain (Image of British locomotive)
How steam engines work. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/steam.htm (Image of steam engine)