When traveling between work and home on the subway, some of us often find ourselves wondering why it is that the handrail on the escalators moves faster than the steps themselves do. Well, this is not some kind of conspiracy but is in fact completely normal. So how does an escalator work? And why are those steps so steep anyway? 

Our story begins in the 1890s – the early days of Coca Cola, Hershey’s Chocolate, and motion pictures! A strange contraption is being built at New York's Coney Island Park. The thing travels along a 25° incline and only goes up 7 ft. Yet spectators back then were amazed by the futuristic Moving Stairs! It was the world's first escalator, and it was just a temporary amusement park attraction! But let's see how the modern escalator works!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices