The Railroad: Reminiscent of a Different Era

Los Angeles Railroad Construction

When the first railroad was chartered in the United States during the Industrial Revolution, the industry brought profound social, economic, and political change to the country. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began construction on July 4, 1828, with the first spadeful of earth being turned over by the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, 91-year-old Charles Carroll. Nearly 2 centuries later, railroads still provide a great service to commuters and businesses alike, crisscrossing all over the nation. Railroads peaked in the 1920s, enjoying their greatest dominance and profitability. There were over 254,000 miles of track in 1916, and railroads held virtually 100% of all interstate traffic.

Revitalizing Railroad Track Construction

Trains provide a respite from the gridlocked highways and streets that many major cities in the United States suffer from. In Los Angeles, it seems that traffic worsens every year, with more and more drivers taking to the road, combined with older drivers remaining behind the wheel later and later due to advances in modern medicine. The beauty of a train is that you can relax, free yourself from the worry of driving a car and avoiding other cars. Train passengers are able to get up and move around in the cars, and interact with one another, something planes and cars do not provide much of, if at all. According to the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the grand Los Angeles Union Station is busier than it ever was except wartime. In addition, California’s oldest commuter rail passenger service continues to make big strides in carrying an ever-increasing number of riders between San Jose and San Francisco.

The freight train system in America is so well structured that other countries have been looking on with envy for many years, doing their best to emulate the intricate network we have established over time.

Railroads provide riders a chance to reflect as the world passes them by. Perhaps that is why passengers feel inclined to speak and interact with one another, to share in their reflective thoughts. On longer distances, meals are served and passengers sleep aboard the rail. In many ways, trains are a writer’s dream, allowing for long writing sessions with generally uninterrupted silence, a flurry of images flying by through the windowpane.

We here at Sharp & Fellows, Inc. boast 130 years of experience, and are eager to put it to work here in southern California. Whether you need new designs implemented or handy maintenance, Sharp & Fellows can get the job done right.