"On the Kansas Pacific Railway." From "Popular Scientific Recreations" by Gaston Tissandier (ca. 1890).
I was astonished to learn how much wind power had been harnessed for land transport during the 19th century -- and going back as early as the 16th century. Land vehicles which were essentially boats with wheels and sails, had long been used in China, Spain and flat countries such as Holland. In the United States, too, there were many land vehicles propelled by sails across the immense prairies at a pace, with a strong wind, which equaled that of trains.
One example was the "sailing wagon" shown in the drawing, which was propelled along the track at up to forty miles an hour when the wind blew directly aft. (One fellow on the wagon seems to be losing his hat to the wind.) A sailing carriage like this one was in frequent use on the Kansas Pacific Railway to transport materials for necessary repairs.
"On the Kansas Pacific Railway." From "Popular Scientific Recreations" by Gaston Tissandier (ca. 1890).
I was astonished to learn how much wind power had been harnessed for land transport during the 19th century -- and going back as early as the 16th century. Land vehicles which were essentially boats with wheels and sails, had long been used in China, Spain and flat countries such as Holland. In the United States, too, there were many land vehicles propelled by sails across the immense prairies at a pace, with a strong wind, which equaled that of trains.
One example was the "sailing wagon" shown in the drawing, which was propelled along the track at up to forty miles an hour when the wind blew directly aft. (One fellow on the wagon seems to be losing his hat to the wind.) A sailing carriage like this one was in frequent use on the Kansas Pacific Railway to transport materials for necessary repairs.