History of trains -- Ultimate trains: 1800-1840: Britain leads and the world follows ; 1840-1870: North America comes to the fore ; 1870-1900: Trains diversity and link the world ; 1900-1920: Age of luxury cut short by war ; 1920-1940: Pursuit of speed and elegance ; 1940-1970: New power generation ; 1970-2000: Fast forward into the future -- Railway innovators