All Steam/Diesel/Electric Locomotives Timeline (1800-1990)
Steam - Electric - Diesel - Petrol
1800
1801
1802
1803
British engineer Richard Trevithick creates the first steam engine capable of moving while towing a load.
1804
Richard Trevithick wins a bet when his machine "Tram Waggon" tows a convoy weighing over 25 tonnes,
traveling at a speed of four kilometers per hour.
1805
1806
1807
1808
Richard Trevithick presents in London his machine called "Catch me who can"; his intention is to profit
from his machine in a sort of steam circus installed by him, but the project fails in this regard.
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
British engineer John Blenkinsop creates a gear and rack railway in the attempt to solve the problems
related to adherence on the rails.
1814
British manufacturer William Hedley finishes a locomotive which solves the problems of adherence by setting
an appropriate relation between the weight of the locomotive and that of the load which it tows; weighing
eight tonnes, she is capable of towing a load of 50 tonnes at a speed of eight kilometers per hour.
British engineer George Stephenson builds his first steam locomotive, which weighing six tonnes is capable
of towing a convoy of 30 wagons at a speed of 6.5 kilometers per hour.
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
The first railway line made on purpose for passenger transport is inaugurated in England, with a locomotive
(called "Locomotion") built by engineer George Stephenson, connecting Darlington with Stockton.
The French Marc Seguin and the British George Stephenson create the first tubular boilers.
1826
In United States, engineer Gridley Bryant carries out a project for a railway connecting the Neponset River
with Quincy City but, unlike in England, the traction is effectuated by horses, the rails are still made of
wood with a metallic cover and granite is transported instead of passengers.
1827
1828
The first railway line built in France and continental Europe starts service, transporting coal from the
mines in Saint-Étienne to Andrézieux in the Loire River by means of animal traction.
1829
The first steam locomotive of America, built by George Stephenson and called precisely "America", arrives
to United States in January.
1830
First public railway in United States, the Baltimore-Ohio line, carried out by the locomotive "Tom Pouce".
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad starts operating as the first scheduled line for transporting passengers
and freight.
The locomotive "Tom Thumb" races against a horse along the Baltimore-Relay line in Maryland... and loses.
The locomotive "Best Friend of Charleston" tows the first passenger convoy in United States.
The locomotive "Rocket" built by George and Robert Stephenson wins a contest against other manufacturers in
occasion of the opening of the railway line Liverpool-Manchester, which starts postal service that same
year.
French engineer Marc Seguin finishes the railway line between Saint Étienne and Lyon.
1831
1832
First railway lines in France operating with steam locomotives.
1833
1834
1835
Belgium inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Brussels with Mechelen.
Germany inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Nuremberg with Furth; this line operates with a
locomotive built by Stephenson, called "Eagle", and a machinist imported from England as well.
1836
Canada inaugurates its first railway line, connecting La Prairie with Saint Johns.
The first sleeping cars are introduced in Pennsylvania.
Russia inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Paulovsk with Konzimin.
1837
The company established by Matthias W. Baldwille in Philadelphia produces 80 locomotives in just one year.
Inauguration of the railway line connecting Paris with Saint Germain.
Austria inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Florisdorf with Wagram.
1838
The first "postal office on wheels" enters service in the railway line connecting London with Liverpool.
1839
Netherlands inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Haarlem with Amsterdam.
Italy inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Naples with Portici; for this occasion three
locomotives are imported from England, one of them named "Bayard" after the French company which built the
railroad.
1840
Improvement of the performance of steam engines thanks to the Clapeyron system.
Italy inaugurates its second railway line, connecting Milan with Monza.
1841
Thomas Cook organizes the first railway excursion.
1842
The locomotive "Papin", devised by engineer Tourasse, enters service in the line between Saint-Étienne
and Lyon.
1843
Thomas Russell Crampton builds the first locomotive fitted with rear driving wheels of large diameter.
France completes the railway line between Paris and Rouen.
1844
William Turner paints "Rain, steam and speed", the first painting of railway theme.
1845
1846
The railroad gauge adopted by George Stephenson (1435 millimeters) is officially accepted in Great Britain.
1847
France completes the railway line between Rouen and Le Havre.
The locomotive "Sézanne" fitted with external cylinders, devised by Hallete, enters service.
Switzerland inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Zurich with Basilea.
Denmark inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Copenhagen with Roskilde.
1848
Spain inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Barcelona with Mataró; this line is operated with
materials imported from England.
1849
1850
Polonceau builds the first locomotives for the railway line between Paris and Orleans.
1851
Peru inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Callao with Lima.
Spain inaugurates its second railway line, connecting Madrid with Aranjuez.
First connection between a train and a ferry boat, in the Firth of Forth, between Scotland and England.
Russia inaugurates the railway line connecting Saint Petersbourg with Moscow.
1852
Chile inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Caldera with Copiapó.
1853
India inaugurates its first railway line for passenger service, connecting Bombay with Thane.
1854
Brazil inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Mauá with Fragoso.
The workshops Ansaldo di Sampierdarena build the first locomotives of Italian manufacture.
Austria inaugurates the first mountain railway in the world, connecting Villach, Lubiana, Graz and Vienna.
Egypt inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Alexandria with Kafr el-Zayyat.
Australia inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Melbourne with Sandridge.
1855
Inauguration of the New York Central Great Western, a suspension bridge with a span of 256 meters and a
height of 76 meters, which connects United States with Canada upon Niagara Falls.
1856
Portugal inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Lisbon with Cintra.
Sweden inaugurates its first steam-operated railway line, connecting Nora, Ervalla and Orebro.
The railway is used for military purposes for the first time: transportation of troops in occasion of the
Crimean War.
1857
Argentina inaugurates its first railway line, connecting El Parque with La Floresta.
1858
George M. Pullman starts to build in United States the luxury cars which are named after him.
1859
The first sleeping car built by Pullman travels from Bloomington to Chicago.
In the very year of his decease, Robert Stephenson delivers a luxury train to the viceroy of Egypt.
French engineer Henri Giffard devises an injector which renders unnecessary the utilization of pumps.
1860
In this year the abundant investments in the North American railways had taken 28000 acres of land east of
the Mississippi.
South Africa inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Durban with Harbour Point.
Australia inaugurates the railway line between Sidney and Parramatta.
1861
1862
The railway in United States reaches its maturity with the constitution of the companies
Union Pacific and Central Pacific.
Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach patents the system known as "rack railway" and obtains
the authorization for a line in the Gotthard Pass.
1863
During the American Civil War, 25000 "yankee" soldiers are transported by 30 convoys, covering a distance
of 930 kilometers in twelve days.
The first dining car enters service in the railway line connecting Philadelphia with Baltimore.
London inaugurates the first subterranean railway line in the world, operating with steam engines whose
smoke would become a health problem.
1864
French engineer Alfred Belpaire introduces the firebox of square section.
1865
1866
The first operational rack railway, devised by North American engineer Sylvester Marsh, is inaugurated in the
slopes of Mount Washington.
1867
1868
Scottish engineer Scott Russell establishes a service of railway ferry boats in Lake Constance, Switzerland.
1869
After seven years of merciless work carried by military veterans as well as Irish and Chinese immigrants,
the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railway lines are linked by a golden spike in Promontory Point, Utah.
Argentina inaugurates the railway line connecting Córdoba with Tucumán.
First railway lines in Uruguay.
Scottish engineer Robert F. Fairlie builds the first articulated locomotive named after him, in which the
driving wheels are installed in pivoting bogies; sometimes, these articulated locomotives would be built
with a symmetrical design to facilitate the driving in both directions.
Romania inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Bucharest with Giurgiu.
1870
New York inaugurates its first subterranean railway line, which operates with pneumatically powered
cylindrical cars devised by Alfred Ely Beach.
Niklaus Riggenbach builds the first operational rack railway in Europe, in the slopes of Mount Rigi,
in Switzerland.
1871
North American inventor George Westinghouse perfects the automatic air-compressed brake.
New York inaugurates the first elevated railway line in the world, which operates with steam trains.
Nagelmackers signs his first international contract for the transportation of passengers in the Indian Mail.
Excavation of the first Trans-Alpine tunnel in the Mont-Cenis Pass.
1872
Japan inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Tokyo with Yokohama.
1873
Mexico inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Mexico City with Veracruz.
First railway line in Bolivia, with traction power provided by mules.
1874
1875
1876
Creation of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (Sleeping Car Company) or CIWL.
China inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Shangai with Wusung.
1877
1878
By adapting an old steam ship, a regular ferry boat line for trains is established on a route of 15 miles
between New York and Cape Charles, in Maryland.
1879
German engineer Werner von Siemens effectuates the first demonstration of electric locomotion during the
Industrial Exposition of Berlin.
1880
North American inventor Frank Julian Sprague builds an electrified railway line for a mining gallery, for
the purpose of preventing the health problems caused by steam engines in underground facilities.
In France a laundry company starts to use electric trains to gather the sheets from the fields in which
they are whitened (because steam engines release soot).
1881
A ferry boat capable of carrying four trains enters service on a route of 145 kilometers between
San Francisco and Sacramento, in California.
First Pullman car fitted with electric lighting in England.
The Brighton Belle, completely fitted with Pullman cars, enters service as the first luxury train in Europe.
First restaurant wagon in the Blue Coast line.
Berlin inaugurates the first tramcar railway line, which operates with tramcars built by Werner von Siemens;
the rails supply electric energy to the motors through the wheels.
1882
Inauguration of the Gotthard railway line in Switzerland, which involved the perforation of spiral tunnels
beneath the Saint-Gotthard masif.
1883
New York inaugurates a tramcar railway line which supplies electric energy through a third rail and wheel.
The viaduct of Tarbes (73.65 meters), built by Gustave Eiffel, is opened to traffic.
Inauguration of the Rome-Express, which connects Calais and Paris with Rome.
Vienna inaugurates the first tramcar railway line which supplies electric energy through overhead lines of
bipolar type.
Inauguration of the Orient Express, the first international railway line of great importance.
1884
European countries establish an international railroad gauge, whose value is a tolerance term between 1435
and 1445 millimeters; however Russia, Spain and Ireland do not adhere to this standard.
Swiss engineer Anatole Mallet builds for the Biarritz railway his first articulated locomotive; he uses
a "compound" design in which the fore part is supported by an articulated bogie whose wheels are actuated
by low-pressure cylinders, whereas the main driving wheels are actuated by high-pressure cylinders.
1885
Canada inaugurates its transcontinental railway line connecting Quebec with Vancouver.
Inauguration of the Garabit railway viaduct built by French architect Gustave Eiffel; this structure
entirely made of iron reaches a height of 122 meters above the Truyère River.
1886
Alfred George de Glehn builds the first four-cylinder "compound" locomotive for the Nord Railway.
1887
Inauguration of the Sud-Express railway line connecting Paris, Madrid and Lisbon.
1888
Richmond inaugurates the first tramcar railway line which supplies electric energy through overhead lines
and a trolley pole system patented by Frank Julian Sprague.
1889
Inauguration of the Moctezuma Special railway line, a luxury train connecting New Orleans with Mexico City.
Inauguration of the iron bridge of 1500 meters in length which connects Poughkeepsie with Highland upon the
Hudson River, in New York.
1890
London inaugurates the first electrified subterranean railway line. The advent of electric locomotion
allows the construction of subterranean railway lines at higher depths.
1891
The first locomotive of the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway reaches the summit of the Pikes Peak mountain in Colorado,
after climbing slopes with an average gradient of 16 degrees.
The Nord Railway puts into service the innovative locomotives designed by Du Bousquet and Glehn.
Russia starts the works for the Trans-Siberian railway line.
1892
1893
Inauguration of the 20th Century Limited railway line connecting New York with Chicago, during the Universal
Exposition of Chicago.
German engineer Rudolph Diesel builds the first engine which is named after him.
1894
A labor strike in the Pullman workshops causes several deaths.
A maritime line operated by powerful ferry boats, which displace about 1000 tonnes, renders possible for
the first time to transfer trains across Lake Michigan; the route of 56 miles is covered in five or six
hours.
1895
The State of Maryland establishes an electrified railway line which runs through the Baltimore Tunnel, in
Chesapeake Bay; the locomotive weighes 96 tonnes and is propelled by four 360-horsepower motors which take
electric energy through a third wheel.
1896
One of the first movies exhibited by the Lumière brothers shows a PLM locomotive while entering a station.
1897
The North American company Phoenix builds a steam-powered locomotive adapted for snowy and icy conditions.
Ethiopia starts the construction of a railway line connecting Addis Abeba with Djibouti, but only a minor
part of the route would be completed.
1898
Diesel engines are presented with great success in the Engine Exposition of Munich, which leads to the
creation of the General Society for Diesel Engines.
The Republic of the Congo inaugurates its first railway line, connecting Matadi with Leopoldville.
1899
1900
Italy inaugurates the first electrified railway line of long distance (106 kilometers), connecting
Lecco with Sondrio, in which electric energy is supplied through overhead cables.
1901
The Croydon Corporation introduces the first fully operational electric tramcar services in the Greater
London area, using electric energy supplied through overhead cables.
1902
Italy inaugurates an electrified railway line of 60 kilometers connecting Milan with Varese, but this time
electric energy is supplied through a third rail and wheel.
1903
The London County Council Tramways opens its first electrified tramcar railway line, connecting
Westminster Bridge with Tooting, and sells 3.3 million tickets in its third year of business, five times
the traffic carried by its horse tramcars.
1904
The North Eastern Railway of London puts into service a Class ES1 electric locomotive of "steeplecab"
design, which can take electric energy through either overhead lines or an electrified third rail.
Italian manufacturer Ansaldo builds for the Adriatic railway new locomotives fitted with Zara bogies, whose
axles can move sideways relative to the frame to facilitate cornering.
Russia inaugurates the Trans-Siberian railway line, the longest one in the world, which connects Moscow
with Vladivostok.
1905
The locomotive M 7002 of the Pennsylvania Railroad, while towing the Broadway Limited, reaches a speed of
205 kilometers per hour (not homologated).
1906
Inauguration of the Simplon Tunnel, the longest one in the world, which connects Italy with Switzerland.
Presentation in the International Exposition of Milan of the Fiat-Diatto railcar, a new type of railroad
vehicle in which the engine, the driving cabin and the passenger department occupy the same car.
1907
British engineer Herbert W. Garratt patents his system for articulated locomotives; the chassis is divided
into three parts, with the fore part supporting a water tank, the central part supporting the steam engine
and the rear part supporting the tender.
1908
1909
Inauguration of the Fades railway viaduct, a steel bridge supported by huge piers made of quarried granite,
which reaches a height of 132 meters above the valley of the Sioule River.
1910
Inauguration of the Argentine Transandino Railway, a mountain railway partly using the Abt rack system,
which connects Los Andes in Chile with Mendoza in Argentina.
Inauguration of the Bernina electrified mountain railway line, which connects Saint Moritz in Switzerland
with Tirano in Italy, reaching a higher altitude than that of any other adhesion (non rack) railway line in
Europe.
1911
1912
The first operational Diesel locomotive enters service in Germany.
1913
1914
General mobilization in the European railways for transporting massive amounts of troops in occasion of the
First World War.
1915
1916
The Baldwin Company builds a gigantic Mallet locomotive (2-8-8-8-4, six cylinders and 75500 kilograms of
traction power) for the Virginia Railroad.
Italian engineer Arturo Caprotti patents his flap valve system for steam engines; it is more expensive
and complex than piston valve systems but it substantially improves performance.
1917
With a single stretch of 548.60 meters, the bridge crossing the San Lorenzo River is opened to railway
traffic.
Inauguration of the first stretch of the Trans-Australian railway line, connecting Port Augusta with
Kalgoorlie.
1918
The armistice of the First World War between the Allies and Germany is signed inside a dining car
reallocated outside its regular route, in the forest of Compiégne.
1919
The French railway workers achieve an eight-hour workday.
The Simplon Orient Express luxury train effectuates its first sortie; this new line which goes through the
Simplon Tunnel was created as an alternative to the original Orient Express.
Foundation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.
1920
1921
1922
Inauguration of the Calais Mediterranean Express luxury train, generally known as "Le Train Bleu".
1923
1924
John Ford finishes his ambitious film "The Iron Horse", an epic vision about the construction of the first
transcontinental railroad, which had united the West and the East of the United States in 1869.
1925
The first panoramic car fitted with wireless telegraphy enters service in the Pioneer Limited railway with
destination Milwaukee.
The first Diesel locomotive for large express trains (one of 1200 horsepower) enters service in Germany.
1926
Inauguration of the "Fleche d'Or" railway line, which connects Paris with London, to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.
French engineer André Chapelon perfects Kylala's system and creates the Kylchap exhaust system, which
improves the performance of a steam engine.
1927
Premiere of the film "The General" by Buster Keaton, who bought 50 kilometers of tracks, six locomotives
and twenty cars for its realization.
1928
Inauguration of the Rheingold railway, which connects Amsterdam with Basilea.
Inauguration of the Edelweiss railway, which connects Amsterdam with Lucerne.
1929
Introduction of the LX sleeping cars, the most luxurious ones in the world, decorated by René Prou.
The French company Michelin presents an innovative railcar whose wheels are fitted with rubber tires, like
those of an automobile; however, this vehicle would be unsuccessful in the market.
Egypt inaugurates the Sunshine Express luxury train, connecting Alexandria, Cairo and Asswan.
1930
Canada inaugurates The Dominion, a passenger train which covers a route of 4650 kilometers connecting the
Atlantic with the Pacific in 87 hours.
An experimental railcar propelled by an aircraft engine and propeller is introduced in Germany; this
revolutionary vehicle is capable of reaching a speed of 230 kilometers per hour, but the project would
be eventually abandoned due to the inherent shortcomings of the design.
1931
The first air-conditioned Pullman car enters service in the Washington-New York line.
The Soviet Union inaugurates the Turkestan-Siberia railway (Turksib), connecting Alma-Ata with Novosibirsk.
1932
Inauguration of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, a stretch of 503 meters above the waters which includes an
electrified railway line.
1933
1934
Inauguration of the Apennine Base Tunnel (18519 meters) and its associated electrified railway line, which
greatly improve the railway communications between Bologna and Florence.
1935
A Borsig streamlined steam locomotive beats the speed record for steam locomotives, when reaching 191.7
kilometers per hour in the route between Berlin and Hamburg.
The Diesel-electric train "Flying Hamburger" beats the speed record for Diesel-electric trains, when
reaching 214 kilometers per hour in the route between Berlin and Hamburg.
1936
Inauguration of the Night Ferry, a direct sleeping-car service between Paris and London.
1937
In England a streamlined steam locomotive is inaugurated in honor of the coronation of King George VI; this
train can cover the route between London and Edinburg in six hours.
The French company PLM builds two prototypes of streamlined Diesel-electric trains which have a weight of
230 tonnes, a length of 33 meters and a power output of 4400 horsepower.
The Italian company Fiat introduces the railcar "Littorina", which achieves great success in Europe and
North America.
1938
The locomotive "Mallard" built by Nigel Gresley achieves a speed record for steam locomotives (not yet
broken) when reaching 203 kilometers per hour.
Nationalization of the French railway and creation of the Société Nationale des Chemins de
fer Français (SNCF).
Construction of the "Blue Streamliner", which is regarded as "the best Soviet locomotive ever"; fitted with
two cylinders and driving wheels of large diameter in three axles, she is capable of reaching a speed of 180
kilometers per hour.
1939
The color film "Union Pacific" by Cecil B. de Mille narrates the epic enterprise of the North American
transcontinental railway.
General mobilization in the European railways for transporting massive amounts of troops and vehicles in
occasion of the Second World War.
South Africa inaugurates the Blue Train, a luxury train service between Pretoria and Cape Town.
1940
The Paris-Orléans Company introduces a 4-8-0 locomotive designed by André Chapelon; despite her modest
dimensions (a length of 20 meters and a weight of 110 tonnes) this locomotive develops a power equivalent
to more than two thirds of that produced by the North American counterpart "Big Boy", achieving an
efficiency which would be never matched by another steam locomotive.
1941
The American Locomotive Company builds the first units of the powerful 4-8-8-4 locomotive "Big Boy", which
has four cylinders and a service weight of 410 tonnes.
1942
The Pennsylvania Railroad puts into service the powerful 4-4-4-4 "Duplex-Drive" Class T1 locomotives,
fitted with four cylinders and driving wheels of large diameter in four axles; this is a controversial
decision, for these machines are complex and expensive to maintain.
Spanish engineer Alejandro Goicoechea designs the system known as TALGO, which allows the construction of
particularly lightweight, stable and articulated trains, being one of the most decisive improvements in
modern railway technology.
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
The first TALGO train is tested in United States.
1950
1951
1952
1953
The "Settebello", a streamlined electric train capable of reaching a speed of 150 kilometers per hour,
starts service in the railway line which connects Rome with Milan, covering the stretch of 632 kilometers
in six hours.
1954
The 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt articulated locomotives of the GMA/GMAM class enter service in the South African
railways; with 120 exemplars produced, they would become the most numerous class of Garratt locomotives in
the world.
1955
Canadian Pacific Railway introduces, for its luxury transcontinental service, a streamlined Diesel-electric
train made of stainless steel and fitted with glass domes in the lounges.
1956
1957
The SNCF Class CC 65000 Diesel-electric locomotive of 112 tonnes and 1300 horsepower enters service in
western France.
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
Inauguration of the Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed railway line which connects Tokyo with Osaka; the highly
aerodynamic 0 Series electric train, capable of reaching a speed of 210 kilometers per hour, covers the
stretch of 515 kilometers in four hours.
1965
1966
1967
First demonstration of a fully-automated rapid railway system, effectuated during the World's Fair
Exposition of Montreal.
A gas turbine train developed by United Aircraft beats the speed record for gas turbine trains, when
reaching 274.9 kilometers per hour in the route between Trenton and New Brunswick.
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
Inauguration of the Sanyo Shinkansen high-speed railway line which connects Osaka with Okayama; the 0
Series electric train covers the route at an average speed of 180 kilometers per hour.
1973
1974
A gas turbine hover train hits a speed record when reaching 411.5 kilometers per hour at the High Speed
Ground Test Center located in Colorado, United States.
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
An experimental magnetic levitation train hits a speed record when reaching 517 kilometers per hour at the
Maglev Test Track located in Miyazaki, Japan.
1980
1981
Inauguration of the TGV (High Speed Train) railway line which connects Paris with Lyon; the Sud-Est
electric train, capable of reaching a speed of 270 kilometers per hour, covers the stretch of 420
kilometers in less than two hours.
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990