- Hydroelectric power generation
Which in the Alps introduced rapid industrialization in coal deprived Northern Italy, in the 1890's.
- Sir Henry Bessemer invented a furnace which converted molten pig iron into steel in large quantities. It became widely available in the 1870's after the process was modified.
- The increase in steel production from the 1860's meant that railroads could be made from steel at a competitive cost. Being much more durable steel replaced iron as the standard for railway rail, and due to the greater strength of the steel, longer lengths of rails could be rolled.
