Home

Author Guidelines

Review TOS

Submit Articles

Member Login

Computer Guides

English Grammar Writing Software - Whitesmoke takes your writing from simple to sophisticate. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks plus a vast dictionary and thesaurus work to improve your texts.

Home | Technology

A Look Back At The First Steam Railroad In The Us: The South Carolina Railroad

By: Chris Blastoyout

The South Carolina Railroad, also known as Charleston to Hamburg Railroad, was the first steam-powered railroad in the world. Its construction was motivated by a need for a better transport system for the cotton produce of Charleston, South Carolina merchants. Despite lack of knowledge about steam technology, the merchants made a gamble; they backed up Horatio Allen's proposal to develop a steam railroad.

Horatio Allen, the chief engineer of the project, won his bid by arguing with the project directors that horse-powered treadmills had limited capacity because horses themselves had limited capacities; locomotives, on the other hand, had a future far beyond the imagination.

In February 1832, as many as 1,317 workers, many of whom were slaves, were engaged in railroad construction. The railroad consisted of flat strap rails nailed to continuous timber sills. Using pile construction, intensive digging was avoided. Pile construction was used to cross uneven grounds and swamps without having to resort to expensive earth moving. Timber piling construction achieved for the South Carolina Railroad quick completion and inexpensive investment. Thus, after the railroad was completed in 1833, it was the cheapest yet longest railroad ever constructed at the time. The line ran the 136-mile distance between Charleston and Hamburg in South Carolina.

By 1834, South Carolina Railroad line had acquired 15 locomotives, and had 23 locomotives by 1935.

The line had a total of 16 turnouts, with approximately 8 miles of track between each turnout. At each turnout, there were a water pump, a timber shed, and a maintenance station. The business of learning how to operate a railroad line was a trial-and-error experience and was not without its costs. For instance, only after a boiler exploded after 6 months of operation that a conductor was employed to handle switches, passengers, and cars. This allowed the locomotive engineer to remain in their station at all times.

By 1934, however, the timber piles started to rot. They were replaced with earthen embankments. In 1836, the flat strap iron rails were replaced with "T" rails.

Another problem that the line faced were the novel and poorly constructed locomotives. South Carolina Railroad, in the end, spent much on repairs, maintenance, and modification of the engines. Some of the common construction problems characterizing the early machines included loose wheels, valve gears, and axles, uneven weight distribution, and weak frames. It turned out, nonetheless, that locomotives indeed had greater provide and created less injury to the tracks.

The South Carolina Railroad had proved then that mechanical engine far surpasses the power of horses. At the time, it was the most important railroad in the country, providing transport for people and merchandise. In terms of financial success, however, the line's was modest because it failed to expand beyond the borders of Hamburg, South Carolina to Columbia and beyond. Plus, it didn't get support from upland investors who, with their uncharacteristic lack of vision, resisted the development of railroads in favor of steam boats. Still, South Carolina Road showed the way, literally, what locomotive power can do in improving transportation means of people.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

Chris Blastoyout distributes information on water and sewer damage issues for Charleston South Carolina Water Damage Restoration and Charlston South Carolina Flood Damage Cleanup

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated