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How Steam Engines Work

By: Marshall Brain & Yara Simón  | 
The Jacobite Express crosses a curved viaduct at Scotland's Glenfinnan.
The Jacobite Express crosses a curved viaduct at Scotland's Glenfinnan. David Cation / Getty Images

Steam engines played a pivotal role in shaping the modern world. They were the first engine type to see widespread use. First invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1705, steam engines saw big improvements in 1769, courtesy of James Watt (who we remember each time we talk about "60-watt light bulbs").

Steam engines ­powered all early locomotives, steam boats and factories, and therefore, acted as the foundation of the Industrial Revolution.

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