Steel rails and bridges
Expanding rail networks demanded huge quantities of iron and later steel for rails, bridges, wheels, locomotives and structures. Improvements in metallurgy made heavier trains and stronger infrastructure possible.
Coal and energy
Coal fueled steam locomotives and industrial plants and became one of the railroad industry's most important commodities. Although traffic patterns have changed, coal shaped generations of railroad operations.
Factories on the siding
Industries located along rail lines so raw materials could arrive and finished goods could leave directly by railcar. Industrial sidings became a defining feature of many manufacturing districts.
Automobiles and machinery
Railroads became major carriers of automobiles, machinery and industrial components. Specialized cars evolved as products and manufacturing methods changed.
Mutual dependence
The relationship ran both directions: railroads needed industrial output, while industrial growth depended on affordable transportation of heavy materials over long distances.
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