Well, most of it runs on electricity, like the lights- or it burns coal or some other fuel.

[Sabriel... isn't the best person to explain this. Technology had never been of much interest to her, beyond the fact that it worked if you kept it away from magic.]

The important thing to remember is that magic tends to break it. [At least, in Sabriel's experience.] I admit, this technology seems... far beyond what I'm familiar with. And some of it still works despite long periods of neglect.