 |
Business | Industries | Finance | Tax |
| Index: > A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
|||||
| First Prev [ 1 2 3 ] Next Last |
of the train to another when a change of direction is required. However, it is now common for the locomotive for a passenger train to remain at the same end of the train. A driving cab is provided in the outermost carriage (see DBSO, Driving Van Trailer), with controls which communicate with the locomotive through wiring along the train. The train is thus pulled by the locomotive when moving in one direction, and pushed in the other (see push-pull). A variation of this occurs when a train consists of a set of carriages with a locomotive at each end, both of which are controlled by a driver in the leading locomotive. This system is used by the Intercity 125.
Drivers are usually instructed by signals when they may proceed or must stop. See railway signalling
A steam locomotive at the Gare du Nord, Paris, France, in 1930.
Long freight trains sometimes have locomotives at the front and rear, and even in the middle of the train. This keeps the train from stalling, and reduces the force on the couplings between the freight vehicles. In this case, control signals are usually sent from the leading locomotive by radio.
Trains which do not have locomotives are referred to as multiple units.
The first railway locomotives ( 19th century) were powered by steam engines. Because of this, some people took to informally calling the steam locomotives themselves "steam engines". The steam locomotive remained by far the most common type of locomotive until after World War II.
The first ever steam locomotive was built by Richard TrevithickRichard Trevithick ( 13 April 1771 22 April 1833) was an English inventor, who was born in Illogan, Cornwall. Richard Trevithick was the son of a mine engineer, and as a child would watch steam engines pump water out of the deep tin and copper mines which, and first ran on February 21February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 313 days remaining, 314 in leap years. Events 362 Athanasius returns to Alexandria 1431 The trial of Joan of Arc begins. 1743 The premiere in London of George Frideric Handel's o 1804Events January 1 End of French rule in Haiti June 15 The Twelfth Amendment to the U. Constitution ratified by New Hampshire, and arguably becomes effective (subsequently vetoed by the Governor of New Hampshire) July 27 The Twelfth Amendment to the U., although it would take some years before steam locomotive design became efficient and economically practical.
The all-time speed record for steam trains is held by an A4 Pacific class locomotive of the LNER in England, Mallard which pulling six cars (plus a dynamometer car) reached 126 mph (203 km/h) on a slight downhill gradient down Stoke Bank on July 3July 3rd is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 181 days remaining. Events 323 Battle of Adrianople Constantine the Great defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium 533 Battle of the Tenth Milestone: Byzantine gen, 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai. Locomotives from other countries such as Germany and the United States attained speeds very close to this, and this is generally believed to be close to the practicable upper limit for the direct-coupled steam locomotive.
Before the middle of the 20th century, electric and diesel locomotives began replacing steam locomotives. By the end of the 1960s, most countries had completely replaced steam locomotives in commercial service. Other designs, such as locomotives powered by gas turbines, have been experimented with, but seen little use.
300px British Railways standard class 5 73096, a 4-6-0 steam loco at Virginia Water station, April 2004.
By the end of the 20th century, almost the only steam power still in regular use in North America and Western European countries was on railroads specifically aimed at tourists and/or railroad enthusiasts, known as railfans or train spotters. Steam locomotives remained in commercial use in parts of Mexico into the late 1970s. Steam locomotives are in regular use in China, where coal is a much more abundant resource than petroleum for diesel fuel. India has switched in last decade from steam-powered trains to electric- and diesel-powered trains. In some mountainous and high altitude rail lines, steam engines remain in use because they are less affected by reduced air pressure than diesel engines.
See also: Steam locomotive nomenclature.
| Politics | Business | Finance |
 |
 |
 |
|