Locomotive

A locomotive (from neulat. loco motivus, moving from the spot ), short- Lok (plural: locomotives ), a track-bound train, which itself has no payload (goods and passengers) is wearing.

Distinction according to the type of drive

Usually after the first Drive between steam locomotives, locomotives differed with combustion engine and electric locomotives. Other drives, for example by means of propellers (see Rail Zeppelin ) or rocket motors, it was only in individual test vehicles. Fire lots of steam locomotives are available in limited operating railway facilities, such as in hazardous areas of chemical industry. Rarely occurring dual power locomotives are locomotives that can choose to receive their driving power via a generator driven by a diesel engine or overhead line or conductor rail.

Steam locomotives

Steam locomotives draw their primary energy from the combustion of fuels usually carried, formerly often peat or wood, then coal (all on an open grill ), as well as coal dust or heavy oil. You are a further development of the steam automobile. The fuels needed for the drive to be carried in cargo spaces (cabbage boxes) or tanks on the locomotive or on an attached Tender.

The thus -heated steam locomotive boilers generated from also in water tanks on the locomotive or in the attached Tender entrained water vapor to the cylinders. This transfer the steam to the rods that are connected via a drive crank to the drive axis.

The steam locomotive was the original and long -time dominant type of locomotive. She is in the U.S. since the 1960s, has been replaced in Switzerland since 1960, in West Germany since 1977 and in East Germany since 1988 almost entirely by electric and diesel locomotives. In Asia, for example, in the People's Republic of China, India, Thailand and North Korea, but also some German narrow gauge railways to steam locomotives are still in regular operation.

For more detailed description and specific designs and see steam locomotive steam locomotive (type )

Engine Locomotives

With internal combustion engines powered diesel locomotives require intermediary systems or transmission, since the internal combustion engine at a standstill or at very low speeds can supply any torque. In a diesel-electric drive of the diesel engine drives first to a generator that produces electricity for the electric drive motors. Diesel engine with a hydraulic drive motion is transferred to a fluid torque converter, the output shaft is connected to the axles.

Past and small diesel engines transmit their power sometimes through manual (diesel mechanical locomotive ). A direct transfer of force from slow-running engines with crank gear has not prevailed.

Only of historical importance are locomotives with spark-ignition engines and other forms of internal combustion engines. The gas turbine engine has found, despite numerous experiments and temporary assignments in operational service, no further application.

For more detailed description and specific configurations see Diesel Locomotive

Electric locomotives

Electric locomotives (short electric locomotives, electric locomotives or electric engines ) have a purely electric drive as opposed to, for example, diesel-electric or electric- steam-powered locomotives. Electric locomotives draw their primary energy mostly during the journey from overhead lines or from a lateral power rail via pantograph.

The discontinuous electric energy storage in batteries is in use. Locomotives with electric traction motors, which are powered by a generator driven by a diesel engine, are usually classified as diesel locomotives.

Modern electric locomotives have only Einzelachsantrieb. The wheel sets together with the traction motor are usually summarized in paired bogies with two or three wheels, bear the overlying structure.

Last stage of development are three-phase drives, the gain from the AC or DC the contact line or generator for diesel electric drives in the rotation frequency current to power the AC drive motors. Multi-system locomotives can go with this technique in different driving line voltages and frequencies.

For more detailed description and specific types see electric locomotive

Kleinlokomotiven

Small locomotives are locomotives with small size and low drive for easy maneuvering. For these various drives are used, among other things, diesel engines, gasoline engines and battery - powered electric motors. Also steam locomotives storage and compressed air locomotives and rail tractors are to be counted among the small locomotives.

Distinction according to application purposes

Earlier locomotive types were distinguished in addition to the type of drive, even after high-speed train, passenger train, freight train locomotives, shunting locomotives and small. However, Universal locomotives for distance running increasingly used, which can draw both fast passenger trains and freight trains. A differentiation of new and highly standardized locomotives on the operating mode is only relevant in the extreme range aptly, ie at very high speeds over 200 km / h or very high tensile loads. A relativistic role in these assignments also plays that old and still serviceable locomotive stock is often still used for rail service with lower power requirements.