Two parallel rails, on which trains move, are a ubiquitous element of the modern landscape. Before the well-known railway tracks appeared, narrow ruts were grooved in the roads, which improved transport. From the 16th century, tracks made of wood were used in mines, but this was not a long-lasting and durable building material. Metal tracks began to spread in the early 19th century thanks George Stephenson, a British engineer who constructed a modern steam locomotive. He also established a rail gauge of 1435 millimeters that is most widely used gauge across the world.
