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In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 - 1804).
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Land Transportation
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The celerifere was an early bicycle precursor invented in 1790 by Frenchmen, Comte Mede de Sivrac. It had no steering and no pedals but the celerifere did at least look somewhat like a bicycle invented the Bicycle.
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1801 Richard Trevithick invented the first steam powered locomotive (designed for roads)
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1807 Isaac de Rivas makes a hydrogen gas powered vehicle - first with internal combustion power - however, very unsuccessful design.
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1814 George Stephenson invents the first practical steam powered railroad locomotive
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1862 Jean Lenoir makes a gasoline engine automobile.
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1868 George Westinghouse invents the compressed air locomotive brake - enabled trains to be stopped with fail-safe accuracy
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On January 17, 1871, San Franciscan Andrew Smith Hallidie patented the first cable car.
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1885 Karl Benz builds the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal combustion engine.
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1899 Ferdinand von Zeppelin invents the first successful dirigible - the Zeppelin.
