Market trends have also struggled to gather steam because of political interventions.

ECONOMIST: Why no hedge fund has made a killing out of the euro crisis

Oberweis likes the economic outlook and says that if the economy continues to gather steam as 2003 comes to a close, his portfolios should continue its strong performance.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The leap of faith you need to take if you invest in CIT bonds is that U.S. economic growth at worst will be punky and at best, will improve slowly in 2011 and only later will gather steam.

FORBES: U.S. Bank Bonds Could Face An Irish-Style Cram Down

In their different ways, the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan have all made clear that will continue to offer massive support for the economy in the form of cheap money - even if and when the recovery finally starts to gather some steam.

BBC: On markets and helicopters

Even experienced rail-riders find it difficult to get aboard modern trains driven by diesel engines which gather speed more rapidly than the steam trains of the old days.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens