Great Wheel, Ferris wheel at Earl's Court, London, United Kingdom.
The Great Wheel was a Ferris wheel at Earl's Court in London that reached a height of 94 meters with 40 passenger cars circling its massive steel structure. The imposing framework dominated the exhibition grounds and represented one of the most impressive mechanical engineering achievements of its era.
Built in 1894 and opened in 1895, the structure drew inspiration from the Ferris Wheel at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It defined the exhibition experience at Earl's Court and embodied the era's ambition to fascinate visitors with engineering marvels.
The wheel represented British engineering prowess during the Victorian era and drew visitors eager to witness technological achievement firsthand. It became a symbol of industrial progress that defined the period and captured public imagination.
The wheel was easily accessed from the exhibition grounds and offered visitors expansive views across London from the top. Each passenger car could accommodate about 30 people and provided a comfortable ride during rotation.
The wheel required two 50-horsepower steam engines to power its operation, a testament to the mechanical engineering required for such a massive structure. This substantial power demonstrated the scale of effort needed to move such a heavy construction.
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