A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning combustible material to produce steam in a boiler. The steam moves reciprocating pistons which are mechanically connected to the locomotive's main wheels . Both fuel and water supplies are carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in wagons pulled behind. The first steam locomotive, made by Richard Trevithick, first operated on February 21, 1804, three years after the road locomotive he made in 1801. A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing its fuel (wood, coal, or oil) and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so their tenders are necessary to keep them running over long distances. A locomotive that pulls a tender is called a tender locomotive. Locomotives that do not have tenders are called tank locomotives.