1826day.year
The Granite Railway begins operations as the first chartered railway in the U.S.
The Granite Railway, the first chartered railroad in the United States, begins operations, paving the way for American rail transport.
On October 7, 1826, the Granite Railway officially commenced operations as the first chartered railroad in the United States.
The 3-mile line ran from Quincy granite quarries to a wharf on the Neponset River, carrying stone for the Bunker Hill Monument.
Engineered by Gridley Bryant, it demonstrated the viability of rail transport for industrial purposes.
Originally powered by gravity and horses, the railway later adopted steam locomotives.
Its success inspired the rapid expansion of rail networks across America and laid the foundation for the nation's transportation boom.
1826
Granite Railway