POLI 100K, Railroads and American Politics: Topic 1, Why are Railroads Important?

The first true railroad -- the Stockton and Darlington Railroad -- was opened in England on 27 September 1825.

In the United States the first regularly scheduled public steam train was run in Charleston, South Carolina on 25 December 1830.

However, in August 1830, the Tom Thumb made a 13 mile run from Baltimore to Ellicott’s Mills pulling a single car carrying the Directors of the B&O.

Almost a year later, on 9 August 1831 the DeWitt Clinton pulled a train between Albany and Schenectady, New York.

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