Foster Steam Car, 1901, Registration No. BW 57

Foster steam car, 1901, Registration No. BW 57. It is driven by a 6 hp, twin double-acting cylinder steam engine, directly by block chain to the rear axle. The steam is generated by a 180 psi working pressure vertical fire-tube boiler, fired by vaporised petroleum.

Steam-powered cars were popular, especially in the USA, in the early days of automobile development. In general, they were quieter, had lower fuel costs and better acceleration than cars with internal combustion engines. Foster steam cars gained a reputation for reliability, winning many medals and trophies for hill climbs and reliability trials, including the gold medal in the 1901 New York to Buffalo endurance test. However, their success was not to last and the company closed in 1905 after just 5 years. Other manufacturers continued to make steam cars into the 1930s but, as internal combustion engines developed, the time and constant attention required to start up and drive a steam contributed to their decline in popularity.