<P> Wagonways for moving coal in the mining areas had started in the 17th century and were often associated with canal or river systems for the further movement of coal . These were all horse drawn or relied on gravity, with a stationary steam engine to haul the wagons back to the top of the incline . The first applications of the steam locomotive were on wagon or plate ways (as they were then often called from the cast - iron plates used). Horse - drawn public railways did not begin until the early years of the 19th century when improvements to pig and wrought iron production were lowering costs . See: Metallurgy </P> <P> Steam locomotives began being built after the introduction of high - pressure steam engines after the expiration of the Boulton and Watt patent in 1800 . High - pressure engines exhausted used steam to the atmosphere, doing away with the condenser and cooling water . They were also much lighter weight and smaller in size for a given horsepower than the stationary condensing engines . A few of these early locomotives were used in mines . Steam - hauled public railways began with the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 . </P> <P> The rapid introduction of railways followed the 1829 Rainhill Trials, which demonstrated Robert Stephenson's successful locomotive design and the 1828 development of Hot blast, which dramatically reduced the fuel consumption of making iron and increased the capacity the blast furnace . </P> <P> On 15 September 1830, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was opened, the first inter-city railway in the world and was attended by Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington . The railway was engineered by Joseph Locke and George Stephenson, linked the rapidly expanding industrial town of Manchester with the port town of Liverpool . The opening was marred by problems, due to the primitive nature of the technology being employed, however problems were gradually ironed out and the railway became highly successful, transporting passengers and freight . The success of the inter-city railway, particularly in the transport of freight and commodities, led to Railway Mania . </P>

Who invented the use of electricity during the industrial revolution