The railroad industry took over travel and shipping in the late 1800s. The construction of transcontinental railroads in the United States during the 1860s and 1870s revolutionized transportation and shipping, making it faster and more efficient to transport goods and people across long distances. With the expansion of the railroads, previously isolated areas became more connected and accessible, leading to increased economic growth and development. The railroad industry continued to dominate transportation and shipping until the early 1900s, when the automobile and airplane industries began to emerge