History and Development of Rail Transportation

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the history of rail transport, steam, diesel, and electric power, high-speed trains, and the development of the rail network in Manila.

Diolkos wagon way

The first wagon way in the history of rail transport, located in Greece around $600$ BC, which consisted of channels that guided wheels and was used for $650$ years.

George Stephenson

The individual in Great Britain who created the first successful steam locomotive.

The Rocket

A famous steam locomotive designed by Robert Stephenson in $1829$ that won a competition in England and travelled at nearly $50\text{ km/h}$.

Sleeping cars

Train carriages introduced in the late $1800$s that were equipped with bedrooms for passenger travel.

Rudolf Diesel

A German engineer ($1858-1913$) who invented the diesel engine in $1892$, leading to trains that were faster, quieter, and cleaner than steam engines.

Shinkansen

Japan's high-speed 'bullet trains' which began service in $1964$ at $210\text{ km/h}$ and currently reach speeds of up to $300\text{ km/h}$.

Monorails

Electric-powered transport used for short distances; the first was built in Germany in $1901$ and hangs from an overhead track.

Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs)

Electric-powered vehicles introduced in the early $1970$s that resemble two joined trams, carry over $150$ people, and have a top speed of $80\text{ km/h}$.

MERALCO

An American company with a $50$-year franchise that owned and operated Manila's electric tramway up to $1945$.

MMETROPLAN study

A $1977$ study that recommended a street-level tram car along Rizal and Taft Avenue in Manila.

LRT Line 1

A $15\text{-km}$, fully-elevated rail line in Manila decided upon in $1979$ that began partial operation in $1984$.

LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project

A project reached $94.1$ percent completion in Q3 $2023$ with five new stations: Redemptorist, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, and Dr. Santos.

MIA Station

One of the five new stations under the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, located near Manila International Airport.