Engineering in Plain Sight

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5 Railways

Introduction

Railroads are one of the earliest forms of overland travel, and they are woven into the history of just about every country in the world. In the United States, railroads fueled enormous expansion and economic growth, perhaps more than any other technology in the 19th century. Today, railroads continue to serve as a vital mode for moving freight and people from place to place.

Railways take advantage of two features to provide rapid and efficient transportation of people and goods. First, the steel wheels on steel rails waste little energy to friction (especially compared to rubber tires on asphalt). Locomotives may ...