The railroad and locomotive forever changed the history of the United States. From its beginnings in the 1830s to Amtrak in the present day, trains have shaped the course of American History. In the 1830s, railroads were merely a novelty, but as soon as investors saw the merits of building them, they began to dominate the landscape across the country. After the civil war and the creation of transcontinental railroads, over-speculation and labor movements stymied the growth of railroads. Railroad companies consolidated, stifling competition. As the automobile began to win the hearts of Americans, passenger railroad traffic declined, leading to the creation of Amtrak, a federal corporation. The future of railroads is unclear, but we can hope that there will be more growth for American Railroads in the future.
Chapters:
Intro: 00:00
Invention of the Railroad: 1:32
America Embraces the Railroad: 3:00
The Era of Railroad Monopolies: 5:13
The Modern Era: 6:47
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