Freight Trains

Freight Trains, or Goods Waggon, were specifically important in Europe when they were first invented and used in the 19th century for the economy and political power. Freight trains were the start of the transportation of goods and resources over large areas. It enabled countries to produce more things for cheaper prices as well. The countries that were able to start using freight trains got ahead at a much quicker pace than other countries economically, and became very powerful. 

 Historical Significance

 Early European Railroads were contracted by individual people and companies some of the most important railways were the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and The Liverpool and Manchester Railways.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway was the first railways to carry passengers and freight, it linked the port of Stockton with Darlington, eight miles inland. This area was a very extensive producer of coal, most of which was sent by coastal ways to the London market. In 1818 they settles on the construction of a railway for the area and in April 1821 parliamentary authorization was gained and George IV gave his assent. A 40-km (25 mile) single-track line was constructed beginning on May 13, 1822 using both malleable iron rails and cast iron and set at a track gauge of 1,422 mm (4 feet 8 inches). The Stockton and Darlington Railway was completed and opened to carry both passenger and freight on September 27th, 1825. After two years operation the trade between Stockton and Darlington had grown tenfold.

The other important Railway in Europe at this time was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which is thought to be the first fully evolved railway to be built. It was a 50-km (30 mile) long line that was opened in 1830.

Most of the railroads nationally in Britain came from London. "The early London and Birmingham became ultimately the London, Midland, and Scottish; the London and York line became the Great Northern Railway; the Great Western expanded into a network of most of the western lines; and the Southern Railway provided lines for several boat and ferry trains. All companies ultimately wove dense webs of commuter lines around London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Edinburgh." Ultimately there was competition between companies, particularly on the longer runs such as those to Scotland, Wales, and the southwest.

 These freight trains were significantly important to Europe, all of these countries had established some type of transportation of their goods and products with freight trains. They were now able to easily transport things from ports to cities for manufacturing and then to other cities and area to sell. It drastically changed the way of the country during this industrial time, economically and socially. They were able to create more jobs by 1847 250,000 navvies were employed in railway construction in the UK, and in the USA. Nearly 34,000 km (21,100 miles) of railway was constructed between 1850 and 1860.



 Global Significance

 After the British started to privately engineer railroads and used freight trains other countries soon followed in suit. The railroad system in continental Europe became quite extensive as several countries started to build railroads such as Belgum, Germany, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, France, and Russia; as well as the United States and Canada too. The production of these railroads started to cause tensions with other countries as well, because each one wanted to become more successful and powerful. This eventually led to the use of these railway systems and freight trains during WWI and WWII for goods, weapons, and transportation of people. All which were a new tactic during a war.





 Citations: 

 A dictionary of world history In (2012). E. Wright (Ed.), Oxford (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press Retrieved from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192807007.001.0001/acref-9780192807007-e-3044?rskey=OzbOFf&result=9&q=railways

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