http://encarta.msn.com/sidebar_46150...ipment.html#s2
diesel trains are modern technology. they are power by diesel fuel and can go 80 m.p.h and can haul around 4,500 to 5,000 tons.
http://www.nps.gov/gosp/research/linkpage.html
The first TRANSCONTINENTAL Railroad was made by two companies the Central Pacific Railroad which was founded by Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins. The other company was the Union Pacific Railroad. Thomas Durant was the head of this company even though Oaks Ames paid for the railroad. This two rail road companies made a change in technology forever b/c after this you could ship supplies on train instead of horse. The first trains was a steam engine but now they have trains that float.
http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/maglev.html
Magnetically levitated trains also known
as maglev are the newest train technology.
A maglev train hovers about 10mm above the
rail on a magnetic field. It is propelled
by the rail itself rather than an engine
by changing magnetic fields (see right).
Once the train is pulled into the next section
the magnetism switches so that the train is
pulled on again. The Electro-magnets run
the length of the rail.