Excerpt from Origin and Development of the Railway Rail: English and American Wood, Iron and Steel
Since the very beginning of man's existence he must, of necessity, have had some means of transporting both himself and material for his use. This at first consisted of what he was able to do by the aid of his body and phy sical exertion. No doubt the first effort to improve this condition came 'way back in the ages, long before the writ ten history of man, when some primitive man in his efforts to make for himself and mate a home, conceived the plan of placing a round section of a small tree under a stone or other obstruction to lighten the burden of its removal. Thus was made the first step toward the production of the wheel and axle, the basis of all successful land transportation.
The next step was taken by some prehistoric genius who, in an effort to still further lighten his burdens, with infinite patience and labor, produced a pair of rough wheels by either burning or cutting them from the trunk of a large tree and piercing them with holes for an axle. Thus, step by step, improvements have been made from the roller and primitive cart and rough trails of our cave ancestors to the wonderful railroads and palatial cars of today. We have become so accustomed to their use and presence that few stop to consider their origin and history and the influ ence they have contributed to the progress and happiness of mankind.
Today we are more, in need of transportation facilities than at any other time in the history of the world.
As is well known, all the products of nature do not exist at the place where they are consumed, but must be trans ported to and from the place of manufacture before they can be used for man's wants. This makes man dependent upon the means of transportation at his command.
This is probably best illustrated by the late Otis Tufton Mason, Curator of the Department of Ethnology, U. S. National Museum, who in one of his reports on primi tive travel and transportation describes the first sleeping car by a picture of an Indian woman with a sleeping baby slung upon her back. When we compare this picture with our modern sleeping cars, we have a most vivid and lasting impression of what the rail and railway have accomplished for the welfare of man.
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Paperback. Zustand: New. Print on Demand. This book chronicles the fascinating evolution of the railroad rail from its primitive origins to the sophisticated designs of today. The author delves into the historical context of rail development, exploring the challenges engineers faced as they sought to accommodate the increasing speed and weight of rail traffic. The book also examines the various types of rails that have been employed over time, from cast iron to wrought iron and finally to steel. The author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type, shedding light on the factors that have driven the adoption of new rail designs. Ultimately, this book provides a comprehensive understanding of the rail's crucial role in the development of modern transportation, highlighting the engineering ingenuity and technological advancements that have shaped its evolution. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 9781333860011_0
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PAP. Zustand: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers LW-9781333860011
Anbieter: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, Vereinigtes Königreich
PAP. Zustand: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers LW-9781333860011
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