Keep Rolling and Rolling - Railway Transport

Railways have contributed to much of today's trade, business and commerce. From the mass transportation of resources like coal, gravel and earth to the everyday hustle and bustle of commuters in major cities around the world, trains have made the transport of just about anything possible. Now new trains are being constructed that can even shuttle people and goods in-between islands. Here's a brief look at the engineering marvels that made train shipping and transport possible:

Stone Rails- Ever since the 6th century BC, a six kilometer stretch called the Diolkos Wagonway was used in Greece to transport ships by the people of Corinth. They pushed these ships on grooves carved in limestone to prevent the wagons from going off course. These stone tracks were used until about 1820.

Understanding Freight Transportation And Its Importance

Wooden Rails- The kinds of railways soon reappeared after the Dark Ages following the collapse of the Roman Empire. Narrow gauge railways were very popular in European mines and were used to tranport all kinds of minerals and people. The first railways in Great Britain were constructed in the 17th century and were used to transport coal. Though effective, wooden rails were very prone to wear and tear and had to be replaced constantly.

Iron Plate Rail- The addition of iron plates to reinforce wooden railways made them much tougher and capable of carrying more weight. However the accumulation of mud and stones sometimes made transport difficult , sometimes dangerous. Wrought Iron and Steel- developments in the process of hot rolling iron meant that railways could become longer. Modern railways still use steel rails that are welded to form continuously welded rails. This is by far the most effective method of railing and is responsible for much of the rail transport today.