The invention of the steam locomotive was to turn around everybody's concept of space and time. People were brought much closer together, and heavy cargo could now be conveniently and efficiently transported.
火車的發明，改變了人類的時空觀念，從前要步行數個月的旅程，縮短為短短數日；騾馬獸力不勝負荷的物資，火車輕而易舉地載運各地。火車拉近了人與人的距離，促成了路旁鄉鎮的繁榮。