A "question of the day" on the local radio station asked "when was the first successful trolley car invented?" After the commercial break, the DJ went on to credit a gentleman named Davenport in Vermont ca. 1835. I've read of Van Depole, the Derby locomotive and others, but who was this Davenport chap?

Wesley

> A "question of the day" on the
> local radio station asked "when was the
> first successful trolley car invented?"
> After the commercial break, the DJ went on
> to credit a gentleman named Davenport in
> Vermont ca. 1835. I've read of Van Depole,
> the Derby locomotive and others, but who was
> this Davenport chap?

> Wesley

Wesley,

A number of people played a role in developing the trolleycar. Frank Sprague is the engineer that made it practical. Siemens, Van Depoele, and even Thomas Edison made major contributions to trolley car and electric railroad development. Sprague, however, had better engineering for electric motor power transmission and curent collection. These efficiencies contributed to smoother more reliable operation and passenger comfort.

Thomas Dacvenport (1802-—1851) built a model electric train powered by an eletro-magnetic motor, his own invention. He adapted this motor to operate a printing press.



sloan@auchincloss.com