Bound For Glory

Bound For Glory. The Railroad Was A Nation Builder. There is no doubt that the railroad defined an American culture and personality that is distinct from its European roots. At its heart, the railroad was a nation builder - the personification of the brash, entrepreneurial spirit that the rest of the world saw in the United States. As early as 1827, William Aiken and Horatio Allen recognized the potential of the railroad to open new markets and to make travel faster and safer. Trains changed American perceptions of time, space, and distance forever and set the stage for later transportation developments like interstate highways and airplanes., The railroads spurred technological growth and innovation. They affected how people and information were distributed across the country. Railways helped settle the middle and western regions of the United States, and were a source of employment for thousands of new immigrants. They were a catalyst for the development of labor unions., The power of the railroad as an icon and symbol of American life is revealed time and again through the works of American authors, poets, playwrights, movie-makers, painters, and songwriters. These artists immortalized trains as glamorous, tragic, romantic, sinister, and patriotic settings for the stories of America. Although trains are no longer a part of the everyday life of most Americans, they still continue to capture our imagination., "We reached Sans Souci in quick and double quick time... before any of us had time to determine whether or not it was prudent to be scared." , Charleston Courier, 1830