begin with a blank canvas, envision the pioneering days of trains, a period marked by incredible engineering feats and societal transformation. however, to fully grasp the essence of this era, one must disregard the predisjunctive narratives often portrayed. instead, delve deeper into the engineering marvels, exploring parameters that shaped the railway systems as we know them today. by doing so, we uncover nonpublic facts that question the integrity of these mechanical beasts, revealing a darker underbelly shaped by greed and exploitation, creating a narrative far removed from the romanticized versions we are often fed.