Compare the effects of the coming of the railways in different countries in the world.

The development of railways as a cheap and efficient mode of transport was not only one of the positive outcomes of the Industrial Revolution; it also had a widespread impact on the same phenomenon. The first steam locomotive, Stephenson’s Rocket, appeared in 1814.

• Development of various railway projects across Britain showed the success of railways in transporting people and goods all round the year.

• Many of the workers who were involved in these projects added to the burgeoning work population in urban areas as they never returned to their rural lives after the completion of the projects.

Observing Britain’s successful implementation of the railways, many countries emulated their example. In fact, it was the implementation of railways that spearheaded the industrial revolutions in countries like Germany, France, and Prussia.

• In Germany and France which lacked an extensive supply of natural resources having lesser colonies than Britain, industrialisation received a boost with the introduction of railways in the 1830s.

• Prussia was able to exploit the rich oil fields in far-flung areas like Silesia and the Rhineland -the Ruhr and the iron deposits in Bohemia because of the connectivity provided by the railways. This allowed them to establish a successful iron and steel industry in the country.

Thus, it can be concluded that the coming of railways affected different countries across the world positively and boosted the process of industrialisation.