Supplementary text railroading begins

(1) In the early years of the 19^th century the idea of using steam engines to draw freight and passenger trains interested many inventors. But the history of steam traction began much earlier when an English engineer, William Murdock, built a working model of a steam locomotive in 1784. It was a baby locomotive about a foot (30.5cm) high. It had three wheels and its boiler was heated by a spirit lamp.

(2) One day Murdock wanted to test his engine. He lighted the spirit lamp and soon the water began boiling. The engine ran fast along the street with loud roaring. Unfortunately, nothing came of Murdock’s invention because his little locomotive was thought of as the creation of the Devil.

(3) And this is how the first steam locomotive appeared in the USA. One day in 1804 the people of Philadelphia saw a roaring and fire-breathing monster running along the street, followed by shouting boys. It was really the first steam locomotive in America, although it did not run on rails. After its short journey on land the locomotive fell down into the river and disappeared in the water.

Exercise 55 a) The words in the box are all to do with travelling by train. Look them up in your dictionary to check the meaning and the pronunciation, then fill in the table.

Ticket office, get on, passenger, information office, platform, buffet car, single, get off, compartment, ticket inspector, catch, miss, engine driver, season, return, book in advance, depart, arrive on time, be delayed, commuter, luggage room, upper (lower) berth, conductor, information board.

Verbs to do with trains	Kinds of tickets	People	Places

b) The following sentences describe what you do when you go to the railway station to catch a train, but they are in the wrong order. Put them in the right order, and then report about your recent railway journey to the group. You can add your own sentences to the story.

• You book tickets in advance

• You get a taxi

• You arrive at the railway station

• You look for a porter to take care of your luggage

• You go to the information board to know about the platform and the track of train departure

• The conductor checks your tickets and helps you with your seat and luggage

• You find your coach and get on the train

• The conductor announces ‘all aboard please, the train leaves in 5 minutes’

• When on board the train, the conductor takes care of passengers: brings bedclothes, offers tea or coffee

• You find your compartment and your berth

Exercise 56 For each means of transport choose the appropriate verb. Build at least one sentence with each verb.

	car	bus	train	plane	bicycle	ferry
get into / out of
get on / off
take off / land
ride
drive
catch / miss
board
overtake
park