Valerie Varnuska of Westbury, NY, has an affection for classic trains and the history they represent. Though trains continue to transport heavy cargo and occasional tourists, their heyday in the United States seems to have passed, thanks to the increasing convenience and speed of air travel. However, Valerie Varnuska hopes that trains, historic symbols of human ingenuity, will not easily be forgotten.

1. Railroads - Providing Growth to the
United States in the 19th Century
Valerie Varnuska

2. Introduction
• Valerie Varnuska of Westbury, NY, has an affection for classic trains and
the history they represent. Though trains continue to transport heavy
cargo and occasional tourists, their heyday in the United States seems to
have passed, thanks to the increasing convenience and speed of air travel.
However, Valerie Varnuska hopes that trains, historic symbols of human
ingenuity, will not easily be forgotten.
It’s no accident that history’s centers of civilization are located along rivers
or seas. Prior to the invention of trains, human civilization was dependent
on coastlines and rivers for transportation.
With the invention of steam engines and the establishment of rail
networks, trains were able to efficiently connect urban centers and
settlements across great stretches of land. This would prove essential to
the growth of the US in the 19th century.

3. Railroads
• The 20-year span between 1830 and 1850 saw the total
length of railroads in the US grow from 23 miles to 9,000,
reaching farther westward to encourage settlers. With
intensive efforts to establish a full continental network, the
total length of railroads peaked at 250,000 miles in 1916.
As time passed and land travel gave way to automobiles
and the interstate highway system, trains have continued to
run in the US, but primarily in a commercial capacity
between shipping centers. Countries like Japan, China,
France, and Germany still use trains for passenger travel,
operating high-speed bullet trains that safely run at
hundreds of miles per hour. Hopefully, the US will wake up
and build high speed trains, too.