London Steam Carriage

In 1801, after James Watt's earlier patent on "a carriage propelled by a steam engine" had expired, Richard Trevithick constructed an experimental steam-driven vehicle (Puffing Devil) at Camborne, Cornwall.

It was equipped with a firebox enclosed within the boiler, with one vertical cylinder, the motion of the single piston was transmitted directly to the driving wheels by means of connecting rods.

The vehicle was assembled at Felton's carriage works at Leather Lane, London, the engine components having been brought from Falmouth where they were made.

A forked piston rod reduced the distance between the single cylinder and the crankshaft and was considered a singular innovation at the time.

Spring-operated valve gear was used to minimise the weight of the flywheel, overcoming one of the drawbacks of industrial steam engines.