Tom Thumb was the first American-built steam locomotive to operate on a common-carrier railroad.It was designed and constructed by Peter Cooper in 1829 to convince owners of the newly formed Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) (now CSX) to use steam engines; it was not intended to enter revenue service.It is especially remembered as a participant in a perhaps …

This article covers the Economic history of Europe from about 1000 AD to the present. For the context, see History of Europe Middle Ages Agriculture. Early in the first millennium, improvements in technique and technology began to emerge. ... and especially after 1830. The availability of cheap coal was a main factor that attracted entrepreneurs.