Early electric train. Historical artwork of an early electric train used in France. This type of train was developed from experiments carried out in 1893 on the Nord (north) network in France. The train is based on designs by the French engineer Auvert. The locomotive (right) is followed by the battery van (providing the power) and the dynamometer car (helping to generate power). This train was capable of pulling a weight of 100 tonnes, and could reach speeds of 75 kilometres per hour. This was inferior to the results obtained by steam locomotives. Urban electric trains were developed the following year. Artwork from A Travers l'Electricite (G. Dary, Paris, 1900).