The First American Railroad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The First American Railroad - Essay Example Mining and transport of mining products to factories and industries presented a very big challenge to the transport industry. This prompted engineers to think of a way to hold the wheels of horse drawn carts from sinking under the weight of mine ores. The first American railroad was inaugurated in 7 October 1826 in a small town called Quincy in Massachusetts. According to a report by Granite Railway Company (GRC), â€Å"On the morning of October 7, 1826, at Quincy, the first railroad in America was opened, and under the direction of a young engineer by the name of Gridley Bryant, the first cars drawn by horses passed over it, carrying huge blocks of granite from the Bunker Hill Quarry to a wharf on the Neponset River, a distance of two and three-quarters miles† (GRC 1). This first rails were made of wood held together with wooden struts. After continued use, these wooden rails began to buckle under the weight of the cars thus strips of iron were added on top. Not all these developments would have been possible without the invaluable contribution of engineer Gridley Bryant. Without him, it would not have been possible to transport mined granite ore from Bunker Hill quarry. Although the iron strips could prolong the lifespan of the wooden rails, it greatly reduced the lifespan of the roller wheels. In the middle of 18th century, iron wheels were introduced and hence the problem shifted to making stronger rails. By the end of 18th century, all iron rails became a reality. The completion of the railroad in Quincy just marked the beginning of robust development of railroads. Loco motions were later invented and this led to opening of new railroads. Baltimore-Ohio railroad opened on 1830 and was later extended to Maryland. Mohawk-Hudson opened in late 1828. Baltimore-Ohio railroad is arguably the first commercial railroad in America after Granite railways in Quincy. Although it first used horse drawn commercial cars, the horses were