Goldsworthy Gurney steam coach, 1827.

Scale model. Influenced by meeting Richard Trevithick, the pioneer of steam propulsion, Cornishman Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (1793-1875) built a steam-powered road vehicle himself in 1823. In 1829, he succesfully travelled from Bath to London and back at a sustained speed of 15 mph in a steam carriage. His plans for a regular pasenger service using steam-driven road vehicles came to nothing however, as the powerful operators of horse-drawn pasenger transport joined forces to ensure that Gurney was forced out of busines.