Locomotive: A self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and pulls train cars along. Locomotives were powered by steam engines during the early stages of railroad construction.
Transcontinental Railroad: A railway line that spans across an entire continent, usually connecting two major coastlines. Examples include the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States and the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Industrialization: The process of developing industries on a large scale, typically involving technological advancements and the shift towards machine-based production. Railroad construction was an important aspect of industrialization during the Industrial Revolution.