As a historian with a focus on the development of transportation infrastructure, I have extensively studied the evolution of railroads and the materials used to construct them. The history of railroad tracks is a fascinating journey that reflects the industrial progress and technological advancements of the past centuries.

The first railroad tracks were not made of steel or iron as we know them today. Instead, they were initially constructed using a combination of wooden rails and strap-iron. This early design was a result of the need to support the weight of the locomotives and wagons while providing a smooth surface for travel. The wooden rails were laid down first, and then flat strips of iron, known as strap-iron, were attached to the top of these wooden rails to provide a durable and hard-wearing surface for the wheels of the trains to roll on.

However, this early system had its limitations. The wooden rails were susceptible to decay and wear, and the strap-iron could be prone to breakage due to the heavy loads and the rigors of travel over uneven surfaces. As a result, there was a constant need for maintenance and replacement, which was both costly and time-consuming.

The introduction of shaped iron rails by the Montour Iron Works in 1845 marked a significant improvement over the earlier wooden and strap-iron tracks. These new rails were made from iron that was cast into a specific shape, which provided a more robust and durable surface. The shaped iron rails were stronger and more resistant to wear, which meant they required less maintenance and had a longer lifespan than the earlier wooden and strap-iron combinations.

The transition from iron to steel in railroad tracks was a gradual process. Steel, being an alloy of iron and carbon, offered even greater strength and durability than iron. As steel production became more efficient and cost-effective, it began to replace iron as the material of choice for railroad tracks. The use of steel allowed for the creation of heavier and faster trains, which in turn facilitated the expansion of the railroad network and the growth of the industrial economy.

The shift from iron to steel was not without its challenges. The technology to produce steel rails on a large scale had to be developed, and the economic benefits had to be weighed against the costs of upgrading the existing infrastructure. However, the advantages of steel were clear, and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, steel had become the standard material for railroad tracks.

In summary, the first railroad tracks were made from a combination of wooden rails and strap-iron, which was later replaced by shaped iron rails as a result of the need for a more durable and maintenance-free system. The eventual transition to steel was driven by the superior strength and durability of steel, which allowed for the development of more advanced and efficient railroad systems.

read more >>

- Reaction of an official of a Northeastern railroad upon being approached with an offer to sell steel rails in place of iron rails. Introduced by the Montour Iron Works in 1845, shaped iron rails were a tremendous improvement over the composite wooden and strap-iron tracks upon which early trains had run.read more >>