The early years of electric traction: Invention, development, exploitation

Abstract

The use of electric power for traction, in a practical and reliable way, began in the 1880s. It took off in the United States and spread with astonishing speed. The world's cities were more than ready for it. It burst on the world with a significant, not to say spectacular, debut at Richmond, Virginia. This took it through from being an ingenious invention to full technical development and exploitation.