Compressed air engine , 1881.

ENGLAND - MAY 12: Plate from the �Illustrated London News�. The idea for a pnuematic railway was first devised by George Medhurst in 1810. This proposed that a carriage could be blown along rails in an iron tube by the action of compressed air. Medhurst's idea was revived in 1860 by the Pneumatic Despatch Co for the transport of small goods, particularly mail. Subsequently, a four foot diameter tunnel was built between Euston Station and a district post office, and later the General Post Office itself was also connected, but the scheme was not a lasting success. Beaumont compressed air machines were later used engineering work, for example for boring tunnels and in mining. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)