Trevithick’s Industrial Dartford Celebration -

Steam Wagons & Commercial Vehicles

A steam wagon (steam lorry or steam wagon) is a steam-powered road vehicle for carrying freight.

It was the earliest form of lorry (truck) and came in two basic forms: overtype and undertype – the distinction being the position of the engine relative to the boiler. Each manufacturer tended to concentrate on one form or the other.

Steam wagons were the dominant form of powered road traction for commercial haulage in the early part of the twentieth century, although they were a largely British phenomenon, with few manufacturers outside Great Britain.

Competition from internal-combustion-powered vehicles and adverse legislation meant that few remained in commercial use beyond the Second World War

Foden 5 ton steam wagon built in 1917. And shown in the Liveries of  Devon County Council.

1940’s Ford Flat bed Truck

1950’s Bedford Recovery Truck

1960’s Commercial Lorries