ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

McKeen railmotor

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the McKeen Railmotor.

You know how sometimes grown-ups travel around in big vehicles called trains? Well, the McKeen Railmotor is a special kind of train that was used a long time ago.

The McKeen Railmotor was invented by a man named William McKeen over 100 years ago. It was a small train that could carry people and things, like bags or mail. It was also very fast, which means it could move quickly from one place to another.

What made the McKeen Railmotor special was the way it was powered. It didn't use steam or coal like other trains did. Instead, it used something called gasoline, which is what cars use today. That's why some people call the McKeen Railmotor an early form of a car that could go on train tracks.

The McKeen Railmotor was used in the early 1900s to help people and things move around quickly and efficiently. But as time went on, other trains were invented that could do the same thing, but better. So the McKeen Railmotor was no longer needed and eventually stopped being used.

Nowadays, you might see old McKeen Railmotors in museums or on display somewhere. They're a reminder of how people used to travel a long time ago, and how inventors like William McKeen helped make it possible.