What features of the underground railroad made it seem like a real railroad?

Answer 1

Many slaves attempted to travel north to escape from their servitude and to start a new life. Although not literally "underground," the underground railroad acted as a conduit for those escaping enslavement to travel to northern cities and hopefully, freedom. The term "railroad" gives a visionary term that may be compared to "midnight express": which was used as a term for escaping from prison. Many slaves attempted to travel north to escape from their servitude and to start a new life. Obviously, escaped slaves could not travel by railroad safely. It was up to their own sense of survival, members of the Railroad who helped them along the way, and also sponsors at the end of the line who were usually abolitionists.