A short history of transport
Since the early days, wheels have been used to move loads from one place to another. Moving a load from place to place is called transportation. The first vehicle used for transportation was the cart.
The cart
The cart has been in use since the discovery of the wheel in 5000 BC. It is a two-wheeled vehicle which is pulled by an animal, such as a horse. Other animals, including the ox and donkey, are capable of pulling carts.
The wagon
Over the years, the quality of carts improved and they could be used for long journeys, carrying heavy loads. A larger version of the cart is the wagon. A wagon is also pulled by animals and usually has four or more wheels.
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The stagecoach
In the 1600s, the stagecoach was invented. The stagecoach is a four-wheeled enclosed passenger or mail coach, which is pulled by a number of horses, usually four. For many years, the stagecoach was the fastest way people could travel over land before the steam locomotive and engine-powered automobile were invented. It was called the stagecoach because it travelled in stages.
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The steam locomotive
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At the beginning of the 19th century, the first train was developed. This mode of transport was originally powered by steam. Steam locomotives were the main form of rail transport until the mid-20th century when diesel and electrically-powered trains became more common. Steam locomotives travelled along railway tracks which guided the train. A railway track consists of two steel, parallel rails.
The Penny Farthing
A bicycle is another machine that is used for transport. One of the oldest types of bicycles is the Penny Farthing. The front wheel is very large, while the back wheel is extremely small. Its name stems from two coins of the time: the penny (a quite large coin) and the farthing (a quite small coin). At first these bicycles were only used for entertainment but as roads improved they became a popular way for people to get around.
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The car
It would be difficult to imagine a world without cars. So many people rely upon them to get around the place. In Australia, most people were not able to afford a car until the 1950s. The first petrol-driven car was designed and built by a German, Karl Benz, in 1885. This car could seat two people and travelled at a slow 13 kilometres per hour.
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