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The idea of a moving staircase was born in the late 1850's. However, it was not until the 1890's that the first escalator was built. The first escalator had a simple structure; a motor was connected to a belt which could move up or down. In the early 1900's, an inventor added wooden steps to the belt. This was the first modern escalator.
These early escalators were short and slow, and they were not strong enough to carry many people at a time. Also, they were not very safe. In spite of these faults, they soon became an important means of transportation in train stations and department stores.
Since then, escalators have been greatly improved in their durability, moving speed and safety. They also have become bigger and bigger; one escalator in Moscow is nearly 140 meters long. It is one of the longest escalators in the world.
Today, escalators are used in many kinds of buildings and facilities all over the world. These amazing machines can carry a lot of people in a short time. They are playing a very important role in modern public transportation systems.