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  • Essay / The invention and development of railway transportation

    In the past, people moved from one place to another on foot. This became a problem when they had to travel with some of their goods, especially over long distances. This is when they introduced the idea of ​​using animals as a means of transportation. This was also not effective as the animals were often tired and fatigued during the journey. Something had to be done and it was the beginning of a great era of ideas. “The idea of ​​running a vehicle on a track dates back thousands of years to ancient Greece, where tracks were made into coils by primitive carts moved by hand or an animal.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The first basic railways were designed using wood, but there was a problem keeping the vehicle on the railway track. After realizing that wood was not the suitable material for building a railway, steel was introduced and it was a complete success. In the early 1700s, an engineer named Devon Thomas invented a steam-powered pumping engine. This was used in mines to pump water across the country. Thanks to this invention, James Watt was able to improve the engine into one capable of powering an entire train. Watt harnessed the power of steam and increased the efficiency of steam engines. An idea is just a dream unless it is put into practice. In the early 1800s (1804-1808), Mr. Richard Trevithick, a mining engineer, took his idea and made it a reality by creating the first real locomotive, which he called "Catch Me Who Can" . This invention traveled 19 km/h and worked by burning coal, it was a steam engine and the fourth locomotive to be created. Many locomotive trains were born from Mr. Richard's idea between the 1800s and 1900s. In the golden age of rail transport, the trains produced were made stronger, faster and cleaner. Cleaner in the sense that electricity began to be used to power the subway instead of burning coal and harming the environment. The first electric train was invented in 1837 by Robert Davidson, a Scottish chemist, and powered by a galvanic cell. The diesel engine began operating in 1912 on the railways in Switzerland. It was not used for commercial purposes, although it was capable of carrying heavy loads, it was not fast enough to transport goods in a short time. In the early 2000s, China created a train that traveled at 693.6 km/h and was used to transport people between cities. The train was powered by magnets and is still being developed into something better to this day. In South Africa, the recent rail development we have is the Gautrain, which was established in 2010, the year of the International Association Football Federation. The Gautrain runs within the radius of the Gauteng province. It uses a card system instead of paying in cash; you buy a card, load it with money and then get on the train. This shows how far the evolution of trains comes. It all started with one invention and turned into so many great inventions. There are other modes of transportation but I personally find train to be the best invention among all other modes, the reasons should be discussed below. Traveling by train can almost feel like paradise, especially for women as it allows you to carry more luggage. compared to motor vehicles, buses and airplanes. With the high accident rate in theworld, the train is still considered the safest mode of transport. Traveling by train may be slower than traveling in your own vehicle, but it keeps you safe. In South Africa, the Gautrain is setting up the park and ride system for those who wish to park their car and travel by train. This has a positive impact on our environment. Additionally, crime levels have decreased as most trains now use the gold card system instead of paying in cash; the chances of getting robbed are reduced. Transportation is generally affordable and reasonable, so you don't have to spend a lot of money to travel. It is family oriented, in the sense that everyone can travel by train, including families, and since it is affordable, the whole family can join the trip. When traveling, you will be able to do your work, contemplate and enjoy the landscape since you will not be driving. Once tired, you can rest comfortably without having to interrupt your journey. Even the Metrorail company, the Passenger Rail Agency South Africa, offers trains that cover long distances at a cheap price. They also have a first class section where they offer services such as rooms where one person can sleep. The trains are efficient as they can carry around 2,500 passengers per hour. Imagine having to transport so many people using motor vehicles. There would be air and noise pollution and traffic would be disastrous. Some trains have regenerative braking capability that allows them to save electricity from the traction motors when braking. On a train you have the opportunity to be social and interact with different people, who have different views on different things, instead of being isolated in your car. It could be argued that traveling with your own motor vehicle is more notable because of its speed. , convenience of personal space and comfort, forgetting that all this has a very unreasonable price. Unlike a car, it's not your responsibility to maintain and repair a train, so it doesn't cost you much. Rail transport has a positive impact on our economy because it creates employment opportunities. With our recent creation, the Gautrain; it offers services to tourists and also welcomes people with disabilities. The trains have non-slip surfaces and handles for people who cannot walk; it provides sufficient light, signage and a non-reflective surface for people with vision problems. Trains reduce traffic congestion and if more people use them daily, it can reduce air pollution since a large amount of chlorofluorocarbons will not be released into the atmosphere. Rail transport is also used to transport minerals from mines to major cities in South Africa and also facilitates trade in goods. I critically think that the train as a mode of transportation is one of the best inventions discovered. This even helps street vendors earn more money. Like in South Africa, there are people selling their products at the station and even on the train. I literally saw interesting things being sold on the train, some of them man-made. Although most of them sell food and refreshments, they make the shoes themselves and then sell them. Some of these people are arrested because police say they have valid permits to sell their products. I totally think it's unfair because they're trying to earn their.