Industrial Revolution Iron Essay

Iron is an enigma of sorts, from constructing large buildings with it to helping the flow of oxygen through your body. Iron is a metal that provides for both the material and physical aspects in everyday life. The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and the Capitol are only a few structures that are constructed with iron. It is widely versatile, and is one of the cheapest and strongest metals that made it indispensable during the Industrial Revolution. Not only that, but it can also be combined with small amounts of carbon to make an even stronger metal: steel. Steel is used to make a variety of things; from medical equipment that saves lives, to towering warships that can cut through the densest of ocean waves. With that being said, let dive into how iron helped

Enter the locomotive, a new way to travel that was comfortable, smooth, and hassle free. Some passenger trains, offered meals and small rooms to sleep in case your trip took more than a day. All this thanks to the iron alloy tracks that had been made for the railroad. These tracks were known as “T rails” and were made up of wood, cast iron, or wrought iron. These rails were also the first to be made in the U.S. in the mid 1840’s. These were the rails of choice for a while, till higher quality ores were discovered in the mid-19th century. Which in turn lead to the fabrication of steel rails. Today, many modern railroads are made out of hot rolled steel. Even though there are many victories for iron and iron alloys, nothing ever comes without some setbacks or mistakes. On June 11, 1861, the Wootton Bridge collapsed under the weight of a freight train passing by with goods. Although the same train had passed safely over the bridge in the morning with a full cargo of coal, as it returned tragedy struck. The train fell right through the deck of the bridge and fell onto the road beneath it, killing both the driver and fireman instantly. The cause of the accident was investigated and a