The Evolution of Trains

The Evolution of Trains

Period: Jan 1, 1603 to Aug 31, 2015

The first beginnings of train parts till the advanced train technology today.

First Wagonway

Dec 31, 1603

Huntingdon Beaumont created first recorded wagonway in England. Soon after that similar railways/wagonways started appearing across England.

First Stationary Steam Engine

Dec 31, 1774

Scotsman James Watt managed to build first stationary steam engine. Over the next few years he and his associates improved their design, enabling machine to produce enough power slow 6-8 mph train movement.

First Public Railway

Dec 31, 1803

First public railway was created in London. It transported goods via horse power on the line that was 14 km long.

First Locomotive

Dec 31, 1804

Englishman Matthew Murray created first steam based locomotive in Leeds. Richard Trevithick showcased his locomotive in public.

Commercial Railways

Dec 31, 1812

First commercial passenger railway opens in England on the Middleton Railway.

LOCOMOTION No. 1

Dec 31, 1825

George Stephenson builds his famous LOCOMOTION No. 1, capable of pulling 90 tons of coal at 15mph.

First Locomotive in America

Jul 31, 1829

First steam locomotive started working in America, but its excessive weight forced it to become stationary boiler.

The Commercial "Rocket" Train

Dec 31, 1829

Stephenson’s locomotive “Rocket” became fastest train ever built with its top speed of 30mph. It was capable of carrying 30 people.

First American Steam Engine

Dec 31, 1830

Americans built their first steam engine. It worked great until 1931 when it exploded.

First Underground Railway

Dec 31, 1863

First underground railway started working in London. Success of this track gave birth to the modern subways.

First Automatic Air Brake

Dec 31, 1872

American inventor George Westinghouse patented his first automatic air brake, which soon became primary brake system in all future trains.

Diesel-Powered Locomotives

Aug 31, 1913

Diesel powered locomotives started being used in Sweden.

Diesel-Electric Power

Dec 31, 1960

America finished their transition from steam models to diesel-electric power.

First Bullet Train

Dec 31, 1964

First bullet train introduced in Japan. It traveled between Tokyo and Osaka with the average speed of 160km/h.

The French TGV

Dec 31, 1979

France begun using their high speed train – TGV. It had average traveling speed of 213 km/h and top speed of 300km/h.

Shangai Largest Metro System

Dec 31, 2010

Shanghai Metro becomes world’s largest urban transit system with 420m of lines and 278 stations.