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Land Transport

LAND: 1900-1959

Jump to LAND: 1960-1999
In 1900, there were about 9000 cars on the road. Just 60 years later, there were 95 million, all powered by petrol-driven internal combustion engines that were faster, lighter and more powerful than previous steam engines. The internal combustion engine transformed air and sea travel as well, in turn, dramatically shaping the course of the 20th century.
Mass-Produced Motor Cars: Early, hand-made cars such as Roll-Royce's Silver Ghost were extraordinarily costly. A new method of manufacturing, called "mass production" revolutionised the development of the car. Cars mass-produced on the assembly lines in factories, such as the famous Ford Model T (1908-1930s) and the Volkswagen "Beetle" (1936-1980s), became affordable to the common people. Improved roads and specially built inter-city motorways made car travel more convenient then ever.
Read the rest of TRENDS 1900-1959 for more background info


LAND: 1900-1959
Jinrikisha
Locomotive Steam Car Electric Tram Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
Ford Model-T Tank Motto Guzzi (Motorcycle) Intercity Bus

1892 JINRIKISHA
At the end of the 19th century, a "human horse" ran between the shafts of the jinrikisha, a "taxi-cart" popular in Japan and other Asian countries. The runner pulled their "rickshaws", as termed by the European tourists, as far as 48km a day. In many cities, the jinrikisha was banned because people felt it was wrong to use people like animals.

1895 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
LocomotiveThe first main-line railway to use electric trains was the Baltimore and Ohio in the USA. 6.5km of track was converted to electric power as smoke from steam locomotives was a nuisance. The locomotives pulling the train drew their current from a rigid rail running overhead.

1897 STEAM CAR
In the early history of motoring, steam and petrol cars were rivals. The "Locomobile" was a popular and successful commercial steam car that was built by the Stanley brothers of Massachusettes, USA. Although it consumed 4.5 litres of water per mile, and took 30 minutes to get up steam on cold days, more than 5000 were sold.

Trams1901 ELECTRIC TRAM
For millions of Britian's city dwellers, electric trams provided a faster and cheaper alternative to the horse-drawn bus or tram. Electric trams got their power form overhead cables, and did not pollute the street as horses or motor vehicles did. Most electric trams ran on rails embedded in the road.

1903 HARLEY DAVIDSON (Motorcycles)
Motorcycles had already taken their modern shape when William Harley and the three Davidson brothers began making them in Wisconsin, USA, 1903. Motorcycles were more affordable than cars, and the Harley-Davidson machines, such as the single cylinder Silent Gray Fellow of 1912 (top speed 72km/h), were soon contributing to a boom in sales.

1908 FORD MODEL T
First sold in the USA, 1908, Henry Ford's Model T was reliable, sturdy and easy to operate. In 1913, it became the first car to be mass-produced on a moving assembly line. Every 93 minutes, one car could be completed. At the peak of production, up to 1000 cars left the factory each day, significantly lowering the price to a level ordinary people could afford. It was nicknamed the "Tin Lizzie" with a top speed of 70 km/h (45mph).

LAND: 1900-1959
Jinrikisha
Locomotive Steam Car Electric Tram Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
Ford Model-T Tank Motto Guzzi (Motorcycle) Intercity Bus

1916 TANK
During World War I, British and French engineers invented armoured vehicles able to cross rough ground by laying down their own metal "tracks" and by picking up behind them in a cycle. To hide its real purpose from the enemy, the British referred to it as a water tank, and the name has stuck.

1928 MOTO GUZZI 500S
Motorcycles were most popular during the 1920s and 1930s, when they met the needs of many who could not afford a car. The Italian Moto Guzzi company was a leading manufacturer of motorcycles in 1920s. The design of the 500 cc single-cylinder engine mounted horizontally was so advanced that it stayed in production for over 50 years. The S model was one of the more basic ones.

1931 INTERCITY BUS
Improved roads in the USA led to establishment of several intercity bus routes. By 1931, the Greyhound bus companies had a 65000-km network linking many cities and scenic spots in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Since the 1930s, intercity buses have been a comfortable and inexpensive form of public transport over long distances.

Go on to Trends 1960-1999 for background info
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