Today, electrical traction constitutes the most successful railway technology, but during the 19th century, the situation was quite different. Steam, produced by burning coal, was the dominant energy vector for transportation. Steam railways experienced a period of sensational development from 1830 to 1875, with frenetic construction in the Western world, and by the last quarter of the century, they had revolutionized the transportation of goods and people, enabling long distances to be covered in much shorter times than with horse-drawn coaches traveling on unpaved roads. Thus, they changed the concepts of distance and travel.

中文翻译：

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具有挑战性的蒸汽：早期电气化铁路 [历史]


如今，电力牵引是最成功的铁路技术，但在 19 世纪，情况却大不相同。燃烧煤炭产生的蒸汽是运输的主要能源载体。从 1830 年到 1875 年，蒸汽铁路经历了一段轰动的发展时期，西方世界疯狂建设，到了本世纪最后四分之一，它们彻底改变了货物和人员的运输，使长距离的运输能够在更短的时间内完成。与在未铺砌的道路上行驶的马车相比。因此，他们改变了距离和旅行的概念。