Industrial Revolution in England
... the most efficient form of transporting the coal. In 1800, there was at least 300 miles of iron rail in British mines. Also in that year James Watt's patent on the steam engine expired and people tired to use the engine for mechanical tasks. George Stephenson, who is usually recognized as the father of the modern railroads, made improvements that changes the way railroads were used. First he reversed the smooth wheels on the cart and groves rail to provide better traction and less wear. More importantly he made improvements to increase the engine power by increasing the steam pressure in the boiler room and exhausting the smoke through the chimney. In 1829 he won 500 lb. for "The Rocket", which pulled a load 3 times its weight at a speed 30 miles per hour and it could out run a horse. In 1830, the Manchester to Liverpool railway was opened. It was designed to move coal and bulk good, but surprising enough it became a function to transport people instead. In it's first year it carried double the revenue from freight, 400,000 passengers. It did that because it was quicker, more comfortable, and cheaper than coach. All the new railways after that were generally designed with passenger traffic in mind. The speedy, efficient service of the coal shipping helped drive down the prices of the coal. Iron and steel industries were modernized because the need for rails, engines, and cast-iron seats and fittings. They were the leading employer of labor, surpassing the textile mills in peak periods. Hundred of thousands worked in tasks as varied as engineering and ditch d...