Electric+Locomotives

First was built by Robert Davis of Aberdeen in 1837. The early development was encouraged by the fact that tunnels were becoming increasingly common and the city governments could not really allow steam engines in the tunnel because of the smoke.

The first use of electric trains on a regular line was on the Baltimore Bell Line (which is a portion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad).

A steam engine collision in Park Avenue in 1902 led the NY state legislature to ban steam generating trains. This led to New York instituting the use of electric trains in 1904.

By 1920 the electric railroad industry was the 5th largest industry in America.

In the mid to late 1900’s the use of the electric train began to decline because diesel had the same advantages over steam, and was much cheaper to install and keep up than electric trains. The government saw no real benefits in keeping up the use of electric trains.

The electric railroad declined greatly when cars became used more commonly beginning right after World War 1.

Current Electric Trains are Basically limited to the Amtrak system. This is used most heavily in the northeast and large cities. However automobiles prevent these trains to be used more commonly. The widespread use of automobiles prevents the government from mandating a more widespread use of electric trains.

They don’t pollute the air, use fewer people, and can function in many different areas (such as the swiss alps).

Electric trains never really got very popular in the U.S. because of the high costs. Therefore only urban areas and a few mountainous areas were electrified, however the mountainous regions no longer have electrified trains. Diesel locomotives prevail in the U.S., except where it is legally necessary to use electric trains (this is usually in the northeast).

Electric trains and the science and technology behind them have had a large effect on the government and the population of the United States in general. At one point it was a large industry and helped stimulate the economy. It is also economical currently because of the relatively low costs of riding trains instead of paying for gas.
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