The development of the steam locomotive was a direct application of steam engine technology.

George Stephenson's 'Rocket,' built in 1829, is considered the first modern steam locomotive.

The first major public railway, connecting the industrial city of Manchester to the port of Liverpool, opened in 1830.

This sparked a period of intense railway construction, known as 'railway mania,' first in Britain and then across the world.

Railways dramatically lowered the cost and increased the speed of transporting raw materials and finished goods.

They created larger, integrated national markets for industrial products.

The demand for iron, steel, and coal to build and run the railways stimulated heavy industry.

Railways made travel faster, cheaper, and more accessible, changing people's perceptions of time and distance.

They were crucial for westward expansion in the United States, national unification, and military logistics.

The railway is considered a key symbol of the 19th century and the power of industrial technology.