The first electric tram, an urban street railway vehicle powered by electricity rather than horses or steam, was invented and tested by which engineer?

Introduction / Context:

Electric trams, also called streetcars, were among the earliest applications of electric power to public transport. They replaced horse drawn vehicles on rails in many cities and helped shape modern urban transit systems. This question asks you to identify the engineer who first experimented with and demonstrated an electric tram system, a fact that is often included in questions on transport and electrical inventions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the electric tram, a rail vehicle for city streets powered by electricity.
• The question focuses on the initial invention and testing.
• The options list inventors associated with postal equipment, magnetic tape and other devices.
• You must choose the engineer known for early electric tram trials, not for unrelated office or audio technologies.

Concept / Approach:

Fyodor Pirotsky, a Russian engineer, is credited with conducting some of the earliest experiments with electric trams in the late nineteenth century. He adapted existing railway lines and used electric power to drive the cars instead of traditional horse or steam power. These trials showed that electric traction was practical for city transport. Later, companies such as Siemens and others developed commercial systems, but Pirotsky experiments are widely recognised as pioneering. The other names in the options are tied to postage meters, tape recording and rubber bands, which have no direct link to electric trams.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Transport and electrical engineering histories mention Pirotsky as a pioneer who applied electric current to railway tracks in trials that powered vehicles. These experiments preceded the wider adoption of electric urban tram systems. While other firms later refined and commercialised the technology, Pirotsky name continues to appear in discussions of early electric traction, confirming him as the correct inventor for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Arthur Pitney invented the postage meter, an office machine for printing postage on mail.

Fritz Pfleumer invented magnetic tape for audio recording and data storage.

Stephen Perry is known for inventing the rubber band, a simple but useful office supply.

Werner von Siemens contributed significantly to electrical engineering and also worked with electric railways, but this specific question and its original options focus on Fyodor Pirotsky as the early inventor named in many general knowledge sources.

Common Pitfalls:

Because electric trams and trains became commercial through the work of several companies, exam candidates may confuse different names and countries. The safest approach is to remember that in typical general knowledge questions, Fyodor Pirotsky is singled out for early electric tram experiments, while Siemens and others are mentioned in more detailed engineering histories.

Final Answer:

The electric tram was first invented and tested by Fyodor Pirotsky.