In what way the railroad important in Edison's early life?

He worked on the railroad from about age 12 selling newspapers to passengers along the Grand Trunk Railroad line. Because of scarlet fever he was nearly deaf, but his access to news bulletins teletype to the station office each day gave him the idea to publish his own small newspaper. It was a hit and it was the first of his many ideas. He also used his access to the railroad to conduct chemical experiments in a small lab he set up in a baggage car. During one of his experiments the car caught fire and he was kicked off the train. This forced him to sell his papers in the stations.