Laurence Payne writes:
There was hydraulic power until quite recently.

We know that!

Battersea Power Station used to pipe hot water under the Thames to
provide heating to Dolphin Square and Pimlico. But I don't know of
any large-scale steam system.

I see.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Let us knot coin gnu werds huitch
are spelld rong." -- Rik Fischer Smoody