Why are 1870's trains different from the trainswe use todey?

Question

Why are 1870's trains different from the trainswe use todey?

Answer 1

maybe because they don't use steam engines anymore

Answer 2

Because they are no longer powered by steam, have air-operated doors and bogies.

Answer 3

It's called progress.

Answer 4

Because technology is always on the move (no pun intended). Steam locos became bigger and more efficient, then those prime movers changed to diesel and electric power. Carriages ceased to be 4 or 6 wheelers made of wood, often unheated, to ones carried on bogies which themselves were constantly developed to provide smoother and smoother rides. More facilities like sleeping cars and restaurant/buffet cars were introduced.

Answer 5

it's called advancement through technology.

Answer 6

Simply because of the advances in science and technology which have taken place since then.

Among the innovations which have appeared since the 1870's which have improved train safety and reliability are:

Continuous braking (law passed in 1889 in the UK that all passenger trains should have it after a particularly nasty accident);

Corridors & gangways (c. 1890);

Block signalling (only one train allowed on section at any time, signalman has to telegraph for 'line clear' before clearing train,  under development around 1870, generally in use by around 1900);

Automatic Train Control (later known as Automatic Warning System and Automatic Train Protection invented 1906 by Great Western Railway);

Electric Traction (Ist experimental electric train ran 1879 in Germany, first regular electric passenger train 1890 on London Underground);

Diesel Traction (both the UK and European countries e.g. Germany, Denmark had diesel locomotives by the 1930's and Germany's 100mph diesel train the 'Flying Hamburger' started running in 1938);

Colour-light signalling (introduced around 1930);

High-speed trains (a French electric train reached 205mph in 1955).

Just a few examples, the list is practically endless.

For an overview of railway history from early days to the present, you could start with the National Railway Museum: