The history of railways dates back nearly 500 years, and includes systems with man or horse power and rails of wood or stone. Modern rail transport systems first appeared in England in the 1820s. These systems, which made use of the steam locomotive, were the first practical forms of mechanized land transport, and they remained the primary form of mechanized land transport for the next 100 years. In January 1888, Richmond, Virginia served as a proving ground for electric railways. By the 1890s, electric power became practical and more widespread, allowing extensive underground railways.