The New Steam Carriage, 1828

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (1793-1875) New Steam Carriage was patented in 1825 and is shown in this promotional print carrying passengers past an inn, where admiring spectators look on. The original design featured four chimneys at the back, and two curved legs in front of the rear wheels which propelled them uphill. These were found not to be effective, so were retained in the next version of the carriage only for when the wheels lost traction, with cranks driving the wheels. The legs were removed in 1826, and in 1828 Gurney separated the steam vehicle from the passenger carriage, using small steam locomotives to pull a carriage or omnibus. One of these latter versions completed the return journey from London to Bath at 15 miles per hour in 1829.