Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?
Billy Connolly (November 24 1942-)
Picture: NEWSTEAM
Electric railwayIn 1879, the first electric railway opened at the Berlin Trades Exposition in Germany. It was the size of what today would be called a passenger-carrying miniature railway. The electric locomotive had a motor with about 3 horsepower, that was capable of hauling three small cars around a belt line 300 m (983 feet) long at up to 7 km (4.2 miles) per hour. Power at 150 volts was taken from a third rail between the running rails, which were bonded to serve for the return circuit. By 30 Sep 1879, it carried 86,398 passengers. The wooden covering over the motor provided a seat for the motorman. Gearing provided the ability to change direction of travel. Werner von Siemans and his firm of Siemens & Haslke was next able to build a line in Gross Lichterfelde, near Berlin, which opened for public use on 16 May 1881.« |
