locomotive

Also known as engine

AI overview

A locomotive is a powered rail vehicle designed to pull trains of cargo or passengers along railroad tracks. Locomotives come in different types—steam, diesel, and electric—and have been essential to transportation systems around the world, as shown by their use in countries like Australia, India, and China.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

~25 min read

Encyclopedic overview

23 sections

Contents

Etymology
Classifications
Steam
Internal combustion
Diesel
Electric
Direct current
Alternating current
Battery–electric
Other types
Fireless
Atomic–electric
Fuel cell–electric
Hybrid locomotives
Use
Operational role {{anchor|role}}
Wheel arrangement
Remote control locomotives
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links

A locomotive is a rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for longer and heavier freight trains, companies are increasingly using distributed power: single or multiple locomotives placed at the front and rear and at intermediate points throughout the train under the control of the leading locomotive.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “locomotive” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.