Industrial revolution question

[La Rouge Beret]

Those countries that were able to industrialise during the 19th century, had in the most part a literate society.

In the event that the country does not have a literate society, how do you modernise said country? Are there countries from OTL that I could look at as a template.

Additionally when do railroads become commercial to move goods around a country vs canals?

 

[Elfwine]

Russia.

Which is, frankly, not a good model - but it's about the only one we have of that "working".

As for railroads: 1840s to 1850s, I think, is the point railroads take over (speaking of the US and probably Britain). But it has more to do with development of railroads than the era - a well built up rail network is needed to drive out the alternatives, as merely by tech it would be from the start (1830s).