Written By Nischal Srinivasan (Grade 12)
When the railroad came to America in the 19th century, it was exciting and revolutionary because people were beginning for a new consciousness of what this might mean for their country. Henry Varnum Poor, an editor of the American Railroad Journal was a prominent figure in this conversation. In 1851, Poor not only called the railroad more than just a method of conveyance but that it was indicative of the movement and vigour which makes up this part compared to our nation.
The statement of Poor that the locomotive is strong and quick, in addition to being mechanically modernist means represent an inviting symbol for the strength and innovation at the time. He reasoned that in the same way America itself moved on rails, with lines connecting every corner and bevel of the nation to each other, so did what it meant to be an American — ambitious, energetic forward-thinking. To the note of Poor, the railroad was testament to American possibility that evidence proof and fact witnessed were all evolving faster than almost anyone could believe.
To calm these fears, supporters of the railroad including promoters, poets and writers started referring to locomotives as ‘the iron horse’. This … by way of the horse betters made it convenient for people to understand how this revolution was taking place. This way they made the railroad appear less complex and more of a daily activity. The iron horse metaphor assured people that though the railroads came with a great deal of changes, it did not mean that America was going to lose its ideals. Rather it indicated that the country was headed in the direction of greater security and peace.
Such a rationale was mirrored in Ralph Waldo Emerson, a rather popular essayist as well. He conceived the locomotive as an apparatus that would foster cohesion among Americans. He envisioned the railroad as a great shuttle where various threads of American culture, people of different professions and nationalities could be woven to create a strong nation. He thought that railroads were not only tools of progress, but rather political strategies that maintain a vast and culturally different nation as one.
At its core, the railroad was no less than a means of transportation; rather, it epitomised the future that America was still fast coming into. It stood for advancement, power, and a way out of trouble. But it was complicated by the dread and apprehension that such transformation of society had widespread consequences. Through metaphors like the “iron horse,” people found a way to like this new technology and see it as a part of their national identity, where the railroad would play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s destiny.
Featured Image Courtesy – Wikipedia
