最后，火车开始加速，我们上路了。

Finally, the train began to ___gather ___speed, and we were on our way.

铁路的使用在1995年左右之前有些波动，但此后势头增强。

The use of railways was a bit fluctuating until around 1995, but ___gathered ___momentum after that.

随着更多人加入，这场政治运动开始积聚力量。

The political campaign is starting to ___gather ___strength as more people join.