Historical Steam Engines

Engravings of steam-powered vehicles and fire pumps, highlighting innovations in early transportation technology from the 19th century.

Engraving depicting John Ericsson's steam locomotive. John Ericsson (1803-1889) a Swedish-American inventor. Dated 19th century

Historical fire pump with petrol engine from the 19th century, Germany, Europe

George Stephenson’s Rocket, 1829, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1861.

Engraving depicting John Ericsson's steam locomotive. John Ericsson (1803-1889) a Swedish-American inventor. Dated 19th century

The 'Rocket', locomotive of George and Robert Stephenson

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot (1725 1804) was a French inventor, who built the first working self-propelled mechanical vehicle, the world's first automobile. In 1770, a full-size version of the fardier à vapeur was built, specified to be able to carry 4 tons and cover 2 lieues (7.8 km or 4.8 miles) in one hour

Engraving depicting a model steam carriage built by William Murdoch. William Murdoch (1754-1839) a Scottish engineer and inventor. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting an army truck by Daimler with a four-cylinder 12 hp engine. Dated 19th century

English express locomotive from 1832 / Englische Schnellzuglokomotive aus dem Jahre 1832, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.

Traction engine, or steam car, invented by M. Lotz from Nantes

Engraving depicting an electrically powered surrey. The battery consisted of 44 Willard cells weighing a total of 430 kg, and the cruising speed was about 15 mph. Built by Riker Electric Motor Company, Brooklyn.

English built, Steam road roller and traction engine, The front axle could be removed, and a casting fixed to which front rollers could be attached, so making a dual purpose machine 1891

High speed locomotive Crampton, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1861.

Stanley Locomobile steam car, 1899. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1899

England. Bus powered by steam locomotive. Engraving in "The Spanish and American Illustration" (1872).

transport transportation railway locomotives steam locomotive ""The Rocket"" George Stephenson 1829 wood engraving 19th century,

This illustration dates to the 1870s and shows Merryweather's Steam Fire Engine. Merryweather &Sons was an 1800s firm in the Clapham (later Greenwich) section of London that produced steam fire engines and steam tram engines. They had vertical boiler (as seen here) that they put onto a platform that was then drawn by horses. It improved fire pressure - great for fighting fires.

Steam locomotive, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1875

Illustration depicting the Little Wonder locomotive on the Portmadoc and Festiniog narrow gauge railway. Dated 19th century

steam powered car using Benzoline fuel; American; 1879

Best Friend of Charleston, locomotive built at the West Point Foundry from the Charleston & Hamburg Railroad, USA. Pulled the first train out of Charleston on Christmas Day 1830. Worked until its boiler exploded in 1831. Engraving, c1880.

An engraving depicting a Phaeton, a form of sporty open carriage. Dated 19th century

Road steamer and omnibus for the Indian Government, 1871. Engine "Chenab" pulling an omnibus labelled "Govt. Steam Train - New Favorite - Jhelum & Rawulpindie". From "Illustrated London News", 1871.

Coupled wheels locomotive of Blenkinsop, vintage engraving. Coupled wheels locomotive of Blenkinsop, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1861. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10674137

Engraving depicting the ploughing and traction engine by J. & F. Howard of Bedford. Dated 19th Century

Cart with motor at the rear, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

A CHINESE CART

Stephenson's endless chain locomotive

Historical illustration of a velocipede, bicycle, luggage tricycle, 19th century and earlier, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century artwork

The Rocket - Early Train

The first car built by the Daimler Company at Coventry, England. From Motors and Motor-Driving, published 1906.

Trial Of Self-propelling Steam Fire-engine From Bowling Green to 14th Street, NY, 1858, Artist Unknown

steam powered car using Benzoline fuel; American; 1879

An engraving depicting an American locomotive. Dated 19th century

Ambulance for the Wounded, 1854. Crimean War: "Ambulance" or Hospital-cart, for removing the wounded from the battle-field...It is a light two-wheeled vehicle, on indiarubber springs. In front is a seat capable of accommodating four persons, who are not incapacitated by their wounds from sitting upright - a broad leather strap, buckled in front, giving them increased security. In the interior...stretchers are slung lengthwise, for a similar number, whose wounds are of a more serious nature. Should circumstances render immediate amputation necessary, a board is let down behind, and se

Oil heated steam tricycle by Louis Lallemand. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Stephenson's locomotive rail-way carriage, 1829. Illustrations. 1830. Rare Book Division. Steam-engines

An engraving depicting an improved traction engine with friction clutches designed and made by George Biddell, Ipswich. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting a covered carrier's wagon with wide wheels to enable it to negotiate bad roads. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting Rene Panhard & Emile Levassor in their two-seater petrol driven car in which they won the road race sponsored by Le Petit Journal. Rene Panhard (1841-1908) a French engineer, merchant and a pioneer of the automobile industry in France. Emile Levassor (1843-1897) a French engineer and pioneer in the automobile industry and car racing in France. Dated 19th century

Carriage, Landaulet, two-horse, four-wheeled travelling carriage for two persons, illustration from 1870 / Kutsche, Landaulet, zweispännige, vierrädrige Reisekutsche für zwei Personen, Illustration aus 1870, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert,.

Diagram of John Ramsbottom's locomotive apparatus enabling tender to be re-charged with water while the train was still in motion. The scoop picked up water from a trough between the rails. Dated 19th century

Locomotive engine, illustration

Lokomotiven aus dem 19. Jahrhundert: die Grashoppermaschine Atlantic, 1832, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhu...

Railroad wagon with outer corridor of the Bone and Guelma railway company, Algeria. Africa. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

19th century locomotives, Stephenson's locomotive, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model.

Engraving depicting an electric delivery van built by Milde for the French postal service.

Locomotives from the 19th century, the engine Saxonia, first built in Germany, 1838, woodcut, Germany, Europe

Illustration depicting a steam tractor with a winding drum and smoke box. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting a corridor train introduced by the Paris-Lyon railway. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting a Parisian horse-drawn summer bus. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting a steam locomotive for road use. Using differential drive and no 'through' axle for large wheels, thus allowing the boiler to be mounted low down so that the vehicle was less likely to trip over. Designed by William Hetherington of Birkenhead. Dated 19th century

Illustration depicting a locomotive fitted with the Westinghouse air brakes. Dated 19th century

Scotte steam traction unit; drawing a train of French military wagons 1900

Petroleum engine locomotive, constructed by JM Grob & Co from Leipzig, around 1886, historical, digitally enhanced reproduction of a 19th century model.

Engraving depicting a velocipede used on the railways round Lake Michigan to get employees quickly from point to point. The rider used both a hand lever and his feet to propel the vehicle, and it was possible to dismount and remove it from the rails quickly. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting a Farmer's or Brewer's dray, a slatted platform on wheels, the round casks held in place by the slats. Dated 19th century

Date: circa 1909

Illustration depicting an closed cattle truck at a feeding and watering halt. This system of trucks was used in the United States for transporting live-stock over long distances. Dated 19th century

Merryweather & Sons steam fire engine, London, 1862.

An engraving depicting De Tivoli's patent omnibus designed to accommodate ladies with crinolines. Dated 19th century

The British Army Lorries Prior To the First World War This 40 hp Wolseley 6 ton lorry underwent some very severe road trials in October 1905. The rout taken was from Leeds to Aldershot, a distance of 232 miles. It was pointed out that the vehicle was capable of travelling at 8 miles per hour, whereas the maximum legal speed was 5 miles an hour. It was suggested that measures be taken by which it would not be possible to put the speed lever into the fourth notch.

The Second Boer War, 1899-1902 Colonel Templer and Captain Gardiner DAAG Steam Road Transport sailed from Southampton on 5 December 1899 by SS Denton Grange with 43 trucks and spare parts of the type shown on the photograph. About Christmas Day SS Denton Grange ran ashore at Las Palmas and arrived at Freer on 9 February 1900. The Steam Road Transport made a bad start in South Africa and had difficulty at first as they couldn't be depended upon. They overcame their difficulties and Lord Kitchener spoke in favourable terms of the steam lorries sent to South Africa.

An engraving depicting a cabriolet. By 1890 the vehicle was seldom seen and, for the most part, had been supplanted by the dog cart. Dated 19th century

Horizontal steam engine on wheels, built by Hermann-Lachapelle. Engraving, 1875. The Spanish and American Illustration. Spanish edition.

SIDE VIEW OF IMPROVED RAILWAY CARRIAGE, 1847

Fire pump trolley of the Paris fire brigade, France. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

Illustration depicting the apparatus for watering cattle during rail transit without removing them from the their trucks. Dated 19th century

Steam Carriage 1825, by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (17931875) was a surgeon, chemist, lecturer, consultant, architect, builder and prototypical British gentleman scientist and inventor, of the Victorian era.

An engraving depicting a combination carriage. This vehicle had the advantage of offering a variety of conveyances while taking up little more space than one vehicle and attracting one payment for duty. Dated 19th century

Illustration depicting the rear of an armoured train with a Nordenfeldt gun mounted in a wagon in front of the engine. Dated 19th century

Electric Landaulet, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Cartoon depicting an Hackney coach and driver. Dated 19th century

A hospital carriage used to transport fever and small pox patients. The carriage was thought to prevent the spread of infection when conveying the patient through the streets to the hospital. Date: 1867

Stephenson steam railway locomotive circa 1859. Side, rear and front elevations. Engraving, 1862.

An engraving depicting a carter and waggon. Dated 19th century

Horse carriages adopted by the new omnibus company in London, United Kingdom, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 664, Volume XXVI, November 17, 1855.

Darracq car. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1899

Diagram depicting an electric brake fitted on a railway wagon. When current passed through magnet, M, the magnet moved towards axis. Magnet will now rotate winding chain, K, over pulley, making brakes, B, press on wheels. Dated 19th century

Photograph by Josef Carl Steuer from 1866 depicting the Clayton street locomotive in the southern region, printed on albumin paper and mounted on a box support, showing machinery and street setting.

Electric Locomotive Construction by Jean-Jacques Heilmann, 1897, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century pattern

French ambassador Charles de Morny's carriage in Russia, from a photograph by Richebourg, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 699, Volume XXVII, July 19, 1856.

Locomotives from the 19th century, Locomotive with double boiler for the French East Railway, woodcut, France, Europe

Four-Wheel Hose Carriage: To be Drawn by a Pair of Horses, Fire Fighters & Fire Equipment

An engraving depicting a Brougham - the ubiquitous private carriage of Victorian times. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting a baker making deliveries using a cart drawn by dogs in Holland. Dated 19th Century

3d rendering of a carriage isolated in white studio background 3d rendering of a horse carriage isolated in white studio background Copyright: xZoonar.com/HugoxKurkx 14517447

An engraving depicting a London cab fitted with a Von Uster's taxi meter. Dated 19th century

Marcooni's Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd. Wireless telegraph. Probably tried in Sweden in 1912. 1.5 K.W. field station.

The carriage for the coronation of Charles X, France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 455, Volume XVIII, November 13-20, 1851.

An engraving depicting a water cart used to lay dust on roads in Summer. Dated 19th century

Primitive Carriage, Georgia, USA, Illustration, Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers, by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

Primitive Carriage, Georgia, USA, Illustration, Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers, by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

An engraving depicting an English Hackney coach waiting for his passenger. Dated 19th century

Illustration depicting a boy pushing a truck baded with coal. Dated 19th Century

Gypsy House and Wagon, England, pre-1820, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

This illustration dates to the 1870s and shows Merryweather's Steam Fire Engine. Merryweather &Sons was an 1800s firm in the Clapham (later Greenwich) section of London that produced steam fire engines and steam tram engines. They had vertical boiler (as seen here) that they put onto a platform that was then drawn by horses. It improved fire pressure - great for fighting fires.

Electric traction at the end of the 19th century. Thomson-Houston electric tram system, Sprague tandem electric station, Brooklyn tram, Sandwell electric tram, Immisch electric locomotive, Slattery electric tricycle, Point-du-Jour Submarine. Old XIX century engraved illustration from La Ilustracion Española y Americana 1890

Combination of Sledge and Wagon used in the Alps, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

Araba car of Turkish women, vintage engraving. Araba car of Turkish women, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1842. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10660334

This illustration dates to the 1870s and shows a well-designed Travelling Post Office. In such vans as that here represented letters are sorted during the journey, and for this purpose the interior is provided with a counter and with pigeon-holes from end to end. When the train stops bags may, of course, be removed from or received into the van in the ordinary manner; but by a simple mechanism bags may be delivered at a station and others taken up while the train continues its journey at full speed. A bar can be made to project from the side of the carriage, and on this the bag is hung by hoo

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