- Safety: The early railways were not very safe. There were frequent accidents, involving derailments, collisions, and fires. Many passengers were killed or injured.
- Speed: The early railways were not very fast. The average speed was about 15-20 miles per hour. This was much slower than the speed of a horse-drawn carriage.
- Cost: The early railways were very expensive to build. This meant that only wealthy people could afford to travel on them.
- Environmental impact: The construction of the railways had a significant environmental impact. It involved clearing large areas of forest and disrupting natural habitats.
- Social impact: The railways had a major social impact. They led to the growth of cities, the decline of rural communities, and the increase of social mobility.