2 Streaming ahead

Chapter 2 Steaming ahead In the 1700s, steam engines were invented. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot tried using one to power a cart. It worked, but the heavy engine almost slowed him to a halt.

Thirty years later, Richard Trevithick had a different idea. He used a steam engine to pull a wagon along an iron track- and invented the train. His friend, Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, was very impressed. But he thought a vehicle that worked on roads would be even better.

Gurney designed a steam passenger coach that didn't need tracks. On a flat road, it went at 24 km (15 miles) per hour. Uphill, it went very slowly...

...and downhill, it almost ran away. I can't stop! As people quickly found out, steam vehicles were hard to control and very easy to crash.