YouTuber explains the engineering secrets of escalators in great detail

The video provides a brief history of the invention as well.
Loukia Papadopoulos

Have you ever wondered how escalators work? These mini marvels of engineers are essential in areas where many people need to go from one location to another quickly and efficiently, such as airports, subway systems, and even malls.

Today, escalators are a much more practical option than elevators as they can move a lot more people at the same time and in a continuous motion. Of course, an elevator is always close to an escalator for those who simply can't go upstairs.

In this entertaining video, YouTuber Jared Owen offers a detailed explanation of how escalators work, complete with carefully-illustrated animations that really help you understand the concepts behind these moving structures.

He also provides a brief history of the invention. Initially called the revolving stairs, escalators are not a new phenomenon. In fact, the idea for them dates all the way back to 1859.

But it wasn't till 1896 that we had the first working escalator. That's still a long time ago!

How have escalators evolved since then? What technology do they use to operate and stay safe? Why do their handrails move faster than their steps? This video answers all these questions and more.

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