Railroad Construction: 3 Surprising Facts About Railroads In The United States

Although they are less relied upon today than in years past, trains remain an integral part of the United State's infrastructure. Primarily, they are used to transport large amounts of goods across the country. While there are passenger trains in the United States, there aren't very many. However, the railroad industry continues to change, and new commuter train systems are underway in many urban areas. In fact, railroad construction has increased substantially since the deregulation of the industry in 1980. Following are a few other surprising facts about the railroads in the United States. 

Track Mileage Is Shrinking

At the height of the industry in the early 20th century, there were more than 254 thousand miles of train tracks in the country. However, that number is slowly shrinking. Ever since railway mileage peaked during 1916, there hasn't been as many tracks as that golden year. Today, there is approximately 160,000 miles of train tracks from coast to coast. And despite new construction projects, track mileage might continue to shrink in the future. 

Train Travel Was Once Considered Evil

When trains first arrived on the scene in the early 1800s, people were skeptical. Not only did they feel train travel was unsafe, they also felt that such machinery came from the devil himself. In fact, a local board of education in the state of Ohio surmised that people weren't meant to travel at the "frightful" speed of 15 miles per hour and that trains were a device of Satan made to lead immortal souls to hell. 

Other concerns about trains related to their safety. At the time, people feared that the pressurized boilers necessary to produce steam would cause an explosion or that trains would collide with each other at high speeds, causing injury to countless people. 

All Interstate Travel Was Once by Train

At the height of the industry, trains were responsible for all interstate travel. If people wanted to travel or if goods needed to be shipped, train travel was necessary. Train remained a popular mode of travel between states until the 1950s. During this decade, people started to abandon rail travel, leaving the industry almost completely open to the transportation of goods. 

As you can see, there are numerous surprising facts to uncover when it comes to railroad construction and railroad history. And there is still more to learn. The railroad industry continues to change and grow even in today's modern times. For more information, talk to an expert like A & B Rail Services Ltd.