Railroads have been an important means of transporting goods as well as passengers for a great many years. In order to move the trains from one place to another, it's necessary to generate enough force to pull the heavy load to the destination. This is the role of the locomotive engines, of which there are several types, with the dominant one currently being the diesel-electric locomotive.
Steam locomotives of the past used coal or oil to generate heat that would cause water to become steam. The force of the steam would drive the pistons which would turn the wheels with the help of the connecting drive rods. Costly maintenance was one disadvantage, while another was the long time needed to get the train moving at a decent clip.
Electric locomotives require the use of electricity coming in from outside the train. There are two main ways to accomplish this: overhead electrical wires or a third rail that is located next to the main tracks. The electricity is transferred to electric motors in the train which are connected directly to the wheels. This type has the advantage of being powerful, fast and durable but the downside is the the cost and difficulty associated with maintaining the power sources.
The type known as a diesel torque converter has an engine that uses internal combustion to create the needed energy. The engine connects to the drive wheels via a clutch or torque converter, which then creates the necessary movement for putting the train in motion. The problem is that clutches are not always reliable and their failure can cause serious troubles.
A rather rare example is the turbine-electric one, which burns oils in order to produce steam. The steam passes through a turbine, which turns at very high speeds and generates electricity which is then sent to the traction motors on the wheels. It is a very powerful type of locomotive but tends to require a large amount of fuel and can be quite costly to maintain and operate.
In the diesel-electric locomotive, a diesel engine is used to drive an electric generator. This provides the electricity to the traction motors which in turn drive the wheels. Because of this setup, it can be referred to as a hybrid, using both gas and electricity. It is currently the most common type in use due to various advantages over the other types.
Unlike steam locomotives, diesel-electric ones do not require a lot of costly maintenance and they can be both started and shut down very quickly. They do not need an outside power that requires more cost and maintenance as do the straight electrical variety. The risk of burning out a clutch is non-existent, which is a distinct advantage compared the torque converter locomotive. Although they tend to be less powerful than the turbine-electric ones, they are sufficiently powerful in their own right and are much more cost-efficient.
Each of the types of locomotive engines discussed has benefits and drawbacks. Perhaps another, better type will be produced in the future, but for now the diesel-electric one is overall the best and most-commonly utilized option.
Steam locomotives of the past used coal or oil to generate heat that would cause water to become steam. The force of the steam would drive the pistons which would turn the wheels with the help of the connecting drive rods. Costly maintenance was one disadvantage, while another was the long time needed to get the train moving at a decent clip.
Electric locomotives require the use of electricity coming in from outside the train. There are two main ways to accomplish this: overhead electrical wires or a third rail that is located next to the main tracks. The electricity is transferred to electric motors in the train which are connected directly to the wheels. This type has the advantage of being powerful, fast and durable but the downside is the the cost and difficulty associated with maintaining the power sources.
The type known as a diesel torque converter has an engine that uses internal combustion to create the needed energy. The engine connects to the drive wheels via a clutch or torque converter, which then creates the necessary movement for putting the train in motion. The problem is that clutches are not always reliable and their failure can cause serious troubles.
A rather rare example is the turbine-electric one, which burns oils in order to produce steam. The steam passes through a turbine, which turns at very high speeds and generates electricity which is then sent to the traction motors on the wheels. It is a very powerful type of locomotive but tends to require a large amount of fuel and can be quite costly to maintain and operate.
In the diesel-electric locomotive, a diesel engine is used to drive an electric generator. This provides the electricity to the traction motors which in turn drive the wheels. Because of this setup, it can be referred to as a hybrid, using both gas and electricity. It is currently the most common type in use due to various advantages over the other types.
Unlike steam locomotives, diesel-electric ones do not require a lot of costly maintenance and they can be both started and shut down very quickly. They do not need an outside power that requires more cost and maintenance as do the straight electrical variety. The risk of burning out a clutch is non-existent, which is a distinct advantage compared the torque converter locomotive. Although they tend to be less powerful than the turbine-electric ones, they are sufficiently powerful in their own right and are much more cost-efficient.
Each of the types of locomotive engines discussed has benefits and drawbacks. Perhaps another, better type will be produced in the future, but for now the diesel-electric one is overall the best and most-commonly utilized option.
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