1825: The Stockton and Darlington Railway, in England, becomes the first to offer regularly scheduled steam-powered train service, carrying both goods and passengers.

1830: Peter Cooper's Tom Thumb is the first American-built steam locomotive.

1831: The South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company is the first to offer regularly scheduled steam-powered train service in the United States.

1850: U.S. Congress authorizes federal land grants for development of U.S. railroads.

1857: George Pullman invents the Pullman Sleeping Car for overnight passenger travel.

1869: The first transcontinental rail line is completed at Promontory Point, Utah. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific meet for the driving of the Golden Spike on May 10.

1887: Congresses passes the Interstate Commerce Act to control certain economic practices of U.S. railroads.

1895: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad starts the first electric main-line rail service in Baltimore.

1925: The first commercial diesel-electric locomotive begins service in the United States.

SOURCE: inventors.about.com; World Book Encyclopedia, Pacific Southwest Railway Museum