Escalators work in much the same way that conveyor belts do, and in most cases the moving stairs are actually on a belt that rotates around a set of gears at a certain fixed speed. The gears tend to be large, and typically sit just below the steps. They are electrically powered and, as they turn, the steps move. In most cases the stairs themselves are just grooved metal that lies flat as it travels down the backside, beneath the floor, and back around again. In most cases this same system controls handrail motion, though this is an additional moving part. These machines often look really imposing, but from a mechanical perspective they tend to be pretty straightforward. Repairs are also usually pretty easy, though they can take a lot of time since they involve, in most cases, major moving parts. Accessibility is often the hardest part about servicing gears and other internal parts. he core machinery for these large appliances is usually hidden beneath the steps...