Train

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An electric locomotive pulling a passenger train in Russia
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Diesel locomotives pulling a freight train in New Zealand
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A suspended monorail in Germany
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A metro train in India
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A restored steam locomotive in the United States
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A tram in Switzerland
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A light rail in Germany

A train (from Old French trahiner, from Latin trahere, "to pull, to draw" [1] ) is a series of connected vehicles that run along a railway track and transport people or freight. Trains are typically pulled or pushed by locomotives (often known simply as "engines"), though some are self-propelled, such as multiple units or railcars. Passengers and cargo are carried in railroad cars, also known as wagons or carriages. Trains are designed to a certain gauge, or distance between rails. Most trains operate on steel tracks with steel wheels, the low friction of which makes them more efficient than other forms of transport. Many countries use rail transport.

Contents

Trains have their roots in wagonways, which used railway tracks and were powered by horses or pulled by cables. Following the invention of the steam locomotive in the United Kingdom in 1802, trains rapidly spread around the world, allowing freight and passengers to move over land faster and cheaper than ever possible before. Rapid transit and trams were first built in the late 1800s to transport large numbers of people in and around cities. Beginning in the 1920s, and accelerating following World War II, diesel and electric locomotives replaced steam as the means of motive power. Following the development of cars, trucks, and extensive networks of highways which offered greater mobility, as well as faster airplanes, trains declined in importance and market share, and many rail lines were abandoned. The spread of buses led to the closure of many rapid transit and tram systems during this time as well.

Since the 1970s, governments, environmentalists, and train advocates have promoted increased use of trains due to their greater fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other modes of land transport. High-speed rail, first built in the 1960s, has proven competitive with cars and planes over short to medium distances. Commuter rail has grown in importance since the 1970s as an alternative to congested highways and a means to promote development, as has light rail in the 21st century. Freight trains remain important for the transport of bulk commodities such as coal and grain, as well as being a means of reducing road traffic congestion by freight trucks.

While conventional trains operate on relatively flat tracks with two rails, a number of specialized trains exist which are significantly different in their mode of operation. Monorails operate on a single rail, while funiculars and rack railways are uniquely designed to traverse steep slopes. Experimental trains such as high speed maglevs, which use magnetic levitation to float above a guideway, are under development in the 2020s and offer higher speeds than even the fastest conventional trains. Trains which use alternative fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen are another 21st-century development.

Types and terminology

Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare, by Claude Monet, 1877, Art Institute of Chicago Claude Monet - Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare - Google Art Project.jpg
Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare , by Claude Monet, 1877, Art Institute of Chicago

Trains can be sorted into types based on whether they haul passengers or freight (though mixed trains which haul both exist), by their weight (heavy rail for regular trains, light rail for lighter transit systems), by their speed, by their distance (short haul, long distance, transcontinental), and by what form of track they use. Conventional trains operate on two rails, but several other types of track systems are also in use around the world, such as monorail.

Terminology

The railway terminology that is used to describe a train varies between countries. The International Union of Railways seeks to provide standardised terminology across languages. [2] The Association of American Railroads provides terminology for North America. [3]

The British Rail Safety and Standards Board defines a train as a "light locomotive, self-propelled rail vehicle or road-rail vehicle in rail mode." [4] A collection of passenger or freight carriages connected together (not necessarily with a locomotive) is referred to as a rake. [5] A collection of rail vehicles may also be called a consist. [6] A set of vehicles that are coupled together (such as the Pioneer Zephyr) is called a trainset. [7] The term rolling stock is used to describe any kind of railway vehicle. [8]

History

Early history

Stockton and Darlington special inaugural train 1825: six wagons of coal, directors coach, then people in wagons. Stockton & Darlington Railway (Brown via Getty Images).jpg
Stockton and Darlington special inaugural train 1825: six wagons of coal, directors coach, then people in wagons.

Trains are an evolution of wheeled wagons running on stone wagonways, the earliest of which were built by Babylon circa 2,200 BCE. [9] Starting in the 1500s, wagonways were introduced to haul material from mines; from the 1790s, stronger iron rails were introduced. [9] Following early developments in the second half of the 1700s, in 1804 a steam locomotive built by British inventor Richard Trevithick powered the first ever steam train. [10] Outside of coal mines, where fuel was readily available, steam locomotives remained untried until the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. British engineer George Stephenson ran a steam locomotive named Locomotion No. 1 on this 40-kilometer (25-mile) long line, hauling over 400 passengers at up to 13 kilometers per hour (8 mph). The success of this locomotive, and Stephenson's Rocket in 1829, convinced many of the value in steam locomotives, and within a decade the stock market bubble known as "Railway Mania" started across the United Kingdom. [11]

The Union Pacific Big Boy locomotives represented the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology and power. Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Departing Las Vegas, NV, October 8th, 2019.jpg
The Union Pacific Big Boy locomotives represented the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology and power.

News of the success of steam locomotives quickly reached the United States, where the first steam railroad opened in 1829. [12] American railroad pioneers soon started manufacturing their own locomotives, designed to handle the sharper curves and rougher track typical of the country's railroads. [13] The other nations of Europe also took note of British railroad developments, and most countries on the continent constructed and opened their first railroads in the 1830s and 1840s, following the first run of a steam train in France in late 1829. [14] In the 1850s, trains continued to expand across Europe, with many influenced by or purchases of American locomotive designs. [14] Other European countries pursued their own distinct designs. Around the world, steam locomotives grew larger and more powerful throughout the rest of the century as technology advanced. [15]

Trains first entered service in South America, Africa, and Asia through construction by imperial powers, which starting in the 1840s built railroads to solidify control of their colonies and transport cargo for export. [16] In Japan, which was never colonized, railroads first arrived in the early 1870s. By 1900, railroads were operating on every continent besides uninhabited Antarctica. [17]

New technologies

Electric train on Djursholmsbanan in Stockholm in the 1890s. Djursholmsbanan 1890-tal.jpg
Electric train on Djursholmsbanan in Stockholm in the 1890s.

Even as steam locomotive technology continued to improve, inventors in Germany started work on alternative methods for powering trains. Werner von Siemens built the first train powered by electricity in 1879, and went on to pioneer electric trams. [15] Another German inventor, Rudolf Diesel, constructed the first diesel engine in the 1890s, though the potential of his invention to power trains was not realized until decades later. [15] Between 1897 and 1903, tests of experimental electric locomotives on the Royal Prussian Military Railway in Germany demonstrated they were viable, setting speed records in excess of 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph). [18]

The EMD FT set the stage for diesel locomotives to take over from steam. Locomotora FSBC 2203.jpg
The EMD FT set the stage for diesel locomotives to take over from steam.

Early gas powered "doodlebug" self-propelled railcars entered service on railroads in the first decade of the 1900s. [19] Experimentation with diesel and gas power continued, culminating in the German "Flying Hamburger" in 1933, and the influential American EMD FT in 1939. [20] These successful diesel locomotives showed that diesel power was superior to steam, due to lower costs, ease of maintenance, and better reliability. [21] Meanwhile, Italy developed an extensive network of electric trains during the first decades of the 20th century, driven by that country's lack of significant coal reserves. [18]

Dieselization and increased competition

World War II brought great destruction to existing railroads across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Following the war's conclusion in 1945, nations which had suffered extensive damage to their railroad networks took the opportunity provided by Marshall Plan funds (or economic assistance from the USSR and Comecon, for nations behind the Iron Curtain) and advances in technology to convert their trains to diesel or electric power. [22] France, Russia, Switzerland, and Japan were leaders in adopting widespread electrified railroads, while other nations focused primarily on dieselization. [23] By 1980, the majority of the world's steam locomotives had been retired, though they continued to be used in parts of Africa and Asia, along with a few holdouts in Europe and South America. [24] China was the last country to fully dieselize, due to its abundant coal reserves; steam locomotives were used to haul mainline trains as late as 2005 in Inner Mongolia. [25]

Trains began to face strong competition from automobiles and freight trucks in the 1930s, which greatly intensified following World War II. [26] After the war, air transport also became a significant competitor for passenger trains. Large amounts of traffic shifted to these new forms of transportation, resulting in a widespread decline in train service, both freight and passenger. [23] A new development in the 1960s was high-speed rail, which runs on dedicated rights of way and travels at speeds of 240 kilometers per hour (150 mph) or greater. The first high-speed rail service was the Japanese Shinkansen, which entered service in 1964. [27] In the following decades, high speed rail networks were developed across much of Europe and Eastern Asia, providing fast and reliable service competitive with automobiles and airplanes. [27] The first high-speed train in the Americas was Amtrak's Acela in the United States, which entered service in 2000. [28]

China operates an extensive high speed rail network. Fuxinghao CR400 high-speed train front.jpg
China operates an extensive high speed rail network.

To the present day

Towards the end of the 20th century, increased awareness of the benefits of trains for transport led to a revival in their use and importance. Freight trains are significantly more efficient than trucks, while also emitting far fewer greenhouse gas emissions per ton-mile; passenger trains are also far more energy efficient than other modes of transport. According to the International Energy Agency, "On average, rail requires 12 times less energy and emits 7–11 times less GHGs per passenger-km travelled than private vehicles and airplanes, making it the most efficient mode of motorised passenger transport. Aside from shipping, freight rail is the most energy-efficient and least carbon-intensive way to transport goods." [29] As such, rail transport is considered an important part of achieving sustainable energy. [30] Intermodal freight trains, carrying double-stack shipping containers, have since the 1970s generated significant business for railroads and gained market share from trucks. [31] Increased use of commuter rail has also been promoted as a means of fighting traffic congestion on highways in urban areas. [32] [ better source needed ]

Components

Bogies

US-style railroad truck (bogie) with journal bearings Railroad truck, FM55-20.Fig8-8.png
US-style railroad truck (bogie) with journal bearings

Bogies, also known in North America as trucks,[ citation needed ] support the wheels and axles of trains. Trucks range from just one axle to as many as four or more. Two-axle trucks are in the widest use worldwide, as they are better able to handle curves and support heavy loads than single axle trucks. [33] [ failed verification ]

Couplers

Train vehicles are linked to one another by various systems of coupling. In much of Europe, India, and South America, trains primarily use buffers and chain couplers. In the rest of the world, Janney couplers are the most popular, with a few local variations persisting (such as Wilson couplers in the former Soviet Union). On multiple units all over the world, Scharfenberg couplers are common. [34]

Brakes

Because trains are heavy, powerful brakes are needed to slow or stop trains, and because steel wheels on steel rails have relatively low friction, brakes must be distributed among as many wheels as possible.[ failed verification ] Early trains could only be stopped by manually applied hand brakes, requiring workers to ride on top of the cars and apply the brakes when the train went downhill.[ failed verification ] Hand brakes are still used to park cars and locomotives, but the predominant braking system for trains globally is air brakes, invented in 1869 by George Westinghouse.[ failed verification ] Air brakes are applied at once to the entire train using air hoses. [35]

Warning devices

This cab car includes a horn (top), a bell (top right), headlights (above the door), classification lights (red lights on side), and ditch lights (white lights on side). GO Train Georgetown 5 (cropped).jpg
This cab car includes a horn (top), a bell (top right), headlights (above the door), classification lights (red lights on side), and ditch lights (white lights on side).

For safety and communication, trains are equipped with bells, horns, and lights [ failed verification ]. [36] [37] [ globalize ] Steam locomotives typically use steam whistles rather than horns.[ failed verification ] Other types of lights may be installed on locomotives and cars, such as classification lights, Mars Lights, and ditch lights. [38] [ globalize ][ failed verification ]

Cabs

Locomotives are in most cases[ failed verification ] equipped with cabs, also known as driving compartments, where a train driver controls the train's operation. [39] [ globalize ][ better source needed ] They may also be installed on unpowered train cars known as cab or control cars, to allow for a train to operate with the locomotive at the rear. [40] [ better source needed ]

Operations

Scheduling and dispatching

To prevent collisions or other accidents, trains are often scheduled, and almost always are under the control of train dispatchers. [41] Historically, trains operated based on timetables; most trains (including nearly all passenger trains), continue to operate based on fixed schedules, though freight trains may instead run on an as-needed basis, or when enough freight cars are available to justify running a train. [42]

Maintenance

A number of maintenance vehicles at work on Metro-North Railroad Metro-North Bronx track work continues (9515218549).jpg
A number of maintenance vehicles at work on Metro-North Railroad

Simple repairs may be done while a train is parked on the tracks, but more extensive repairs will be done at a motive power depot. [43] Similar facilities exist for repairing damaged or defective train cars. [44] Maintenance of way trains are used to build and repair railroad tracks and other equipment. [45]

Crew

Train drivers, also known as engineers, are responsible for operating trains. [46] Conductors are in charge of trains and their cargo, and help passengers on passenger trains. [46] Brakeman, also known as trainmen, were historically responsible for manually applying brakes, though the term is used today to refer to crew members who perform tasks such as operating switches, coupling and uncoupling train cars, and setting handbrakes on equipment. [46] Steam locomotives require a fireman who is responsible for fueling and regulating the locomotive's fire and boiler. [46] On passenger trains, other crew members assist passengers, such as chefs to prepare food, and service attendants to provide food and drinks to passengers. Other passenger train specific duties include passenger car attendants, who assist passengers with boarding and alighting from trains, answer questions, and keep train cars clean, and sleeping car attendants, who perform similar duties in sleeping cars. [46] Some trains can operate with automatic train operation without a driver directly present. [47]

Gauge

A narrow gauge train in Austria Narrow gauge railroad - Geriatriezentrum Lainz 22.jpg
A narrow gauge train in Austria

Around the world, various track gauges are in use for trains. In most cases, trains can only operate on tracks that are of the same gauge; where different gauge trains meet, it is known as a break of gauge. Standard gauge, defined as 1,435 mm (4 ft 8.5 in) between the rails, is the most common gauge worldwide, though both broad-gauge and narrow-gauge trains are also in use. [48] Trains also need to fit within the loading gauge profile to avoid fouling bridges and lineside infrastructure with this being a potential limiting factor on loads such as intermodal container types that may be carried. [49]

Safety

Most derailments, such as this one in Switzerland, are minor and do not cause injuries or damage. Derailment Repair (4213647132).jpg
Most derailments, such as this one in Switzerland, are minor and do not cause injuries or damage.
Trains carrying hazardous materials display information identifying their cargo and hazards. This tank car carrying chlorine displays, among other markings, a U.S. DOT placard showing a UN number that identifies the hazardous substance. Tank car with placard 1017 (chlorine).jpg
Trains carrying hazardous materials display information identifying their cargo and hazards. This tank car carrying chlorine displays, among other markings, a U.S. DOT placard showing a UN number that identifies the hazardous substance.

Train accidents sometimes occur, including derailments (when a train leaves the tracks) and train wrecks (collisions between trains). Accidents were more common in the early days of trains, when railway signal systems, centralized traffic control, and failsafe systems to prevent collisions were primitive or did not yet exist. [51] To prevent accidents, systems such as automatic train stop are used; these are failsafe systems that apply the brakes on a train if it passes a red signal and enters an occupied block, or if any of the train's equipment malfunctions. [52] [ obsolete source ] More advanced safety systems, such as positive train control, can also automatically regulate train speed, preventing derailments from entering curves or switches too fast. [53]

Modern trains have a very good safety record overall, comparable with air travel. [54] In the United States between 2000 and 2009, train travel averaged 0.43 deaths per billion passenger miles traveled. While this was higher than that of air travel at 0.07 deaths per billion passenger miles, it was also far below the 7.28 deaths per billion passenger miles of car travel. [55] In the 21st century, several derailments of oil trains caused fatalities, most notably the Canadian Lac-Mégantic rail disaster in 2013 which killed 47 people and leveled much of the town of Lac-Mégantic. [56]

The vast majority of train-related fatalities, over 90 percent, are due to trespassing on railroad tracks, or collisions with road vehicles at level crossings. [57] Organizations such as Operation Lifesaver have been formed to improve safety awareness at railroad crossings, and governments have also launched ad campaigns. Trains cannot stop quickly when at speed; even an emergency brake application may still require more than a mile of stopping distance. As such, emphasis is on educating motorists to yield to trains at crossings and avoid trespassing. [58]

Motive power

Garratt locomotives in Zimbabwe 0444 BulawayoZimbabwe 19920730.jpg
Garratt locomotives in Zimbabwe

Before steam

The first trains were rope-hauled, gravity powered or pulled by horses. [9]

Steam

Steam locomotives work by burning coal, wood or oil fuel in a boiler to heat water into steam, which powers the locomotive's pistons which are in turn connected to the wheels. [59] In the mid 20th century, most steam locomotives were replaced by diesel or electric locomotives, which were cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable. [60] Steam locomotives are still used in heritage railways operated in many countries for the leisure and enthusiast market. [61] [ globalize ]

Diesel

Diesel locomotives are powered with a diesel engine, which generates electricity to drive traction motors. This is known as a diesel–electric transmission, and is used on most larger diesels. [62] Diesel power replaced steam for a variety of reasons: diesel locomotives were less complex, far more reliable, cheaper, cleaner, easier to maintain, and more fuel efficient. [60]

Electric

Swiss Electric locomotive at Brig, Switzerland SwissMGB.jpg
Swiss Electric locomotive at Brig, Switzerland

Electric trains receive their current via overhead lines or through a third rail electric system, which is then used to power traction motors that drive the wheels. [63] Electric traction offers a lower cost per mile of train operation but at a higher initial cost, which can only be justified on high traffic lines. Even though the cost per mile of construction is much higher, electric traction is cheaper to operate thanks to lower maintenance and purchase costs for locomotives and equipment. [63] Compared to diesel locomotives, electric locomotives produce no direct emissions and accelerate much faster, making them better suited to passenger service, especially underground. [63] [64]

Other types

A gas turbine locomotive operated by the Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific third generation GTEL locomotive.JPG
A gas turbine locomotive operated by the Union Pacific Railroad

Various other types of train propulsion have been tried, some more successful than others.

In the mid 1900s, gas turbine locomotives were developed and successfully used, though most were retired due to high fuel costs and poor reliability. [65]

In the 21st century, alternative fuels for locomotives are under development, due to increasing costs for diesel and a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trains. Examples include hydrail (trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells) and the use of compressed or liquefied natural gas. [66] [67]

Train cars

Various types of railroad cars in a classification yard in the United States BNSF Railway Classification Yard, South of Galesburg, IL (3).jpg
Various types of railroad cars in a classification yard in the United States

Train cars, also known as wagons, are unpowered rail vehicles which are typically pulled by locomotives. Many different types exist, specialized to handle various types of cargo. Some common types include boxcars (also known as covered goods wagons) that carry a wide variety of cargo, flatcars (also known as flat wagons) which have flat tops to hold cargo, hopper cars which carry bulk commodities, and tank cars which carry liquids and gases. Examples of more specialized types of train cars include bottle cars which hold molten steel, [68] Schnabel cars which handle very heavy loads, and refrigerator cars which carry perishable goods. [69] [70]

Early train cars were small and light, much like early locomotives, but over time they have become larger as locomotives have become more powerful. [68]

Passenger trains

Second-class compartment of a China Railways CRH1A-A train Shenzhen Guangzhou high speed train new rolling stock China (37116926035).jpg
Second-class compartment of a China Railways CRH1A-A train

A passenger train is used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars. Passenger trains travel between stations or depots, where passengers may board and disembark. In most cases, passenger trains operate on a fixed schedule and have priority over freight trains. [71] In Europe, passenger trains are assinged to different train categories.

Passenger trains can be divided into short and long distance services.

Long distance trains

Long distance passenger trains travel over hundreds or even thousands of miles between cities. The longest passenger train service in the world is Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and Vladivostok, a distance of 9,289 kilometers (5,772 mi). [72] In general, long distance trains may take days to complete their journeys, and stop at dozens of stations along their routes. For many rural communities, they are the only form of public transportation available. [73]

Short distance trains

Short distance or regional passenger trains have travel times measured in hours or even minutes, as opposed to days. They run more frequently than long distance trains, and are often used by commuters. Short distance passenger trains specifically designed for commuters are known as commuter rail. [74]

High speed trains

The Japanese 0 Series Shinkansen pioneered high speed rail service. Shinkansen 0series (4424654951).jpg
The Japanese 0 Series Shinkansen pioneered high speed rail service.

High speed trains are designed to be much faster than conventional trains, and typically run on their own separate tracks than other, slower trains. The first high speed train was the Japanese Shinkansen, which opened in 1964. [75] In the 21st century, services such as the French TGV and German Intercity Express are competitive with airplanes in travel time over short to medium distances. [76]

A subset of high speed trains are higher speed trains, which bridge the gap between conventional and high speed trains, and travel at speeds between the two. Examples include the Northeast Regional in the United States, the Gatimaan Express in India, and the KTM ETS in Malaysia.

Luxury trains

Luxury trains provide permium rail services on their journey, either within a given country or across country borders. Some use refurbished classic rail cars.

Rapid transit trains

A number of types of trains are used to provide rapid transit to urban areas. These are distinct from traditional passenger trains in that they operate more frequently, typically do not share tracks with freight trains, and cover relatively short distances. Many different kinds of systems are in use globally. [77]

Rapid transit trains that operate in tunnels below ground are known as subways, undergrounds, or metros. Elevated railways operate on viaducts or bridges above the ground, often on top of city streets. "Metro" may also refer to rapid transit that operates at ground level. In many systems, two or even all three of these types may exist on different portions of a network.[ citation needed ]

The New Orleans Streetcar System is one of the oldest in the world. New Orleans Streetcar 461 on Carondelet Street, 24 August 2021 - 02.jpg
The New Orleans Streetcar System is one of the oldest in the world.

Trams

Trams, also known in North America as streetcars, typically operate on or parallel to streets in cities, with frequent stops and a high frequency of service. [78]

Light rail

Skoda Artic light rail train near the cathedral in Tampere, Finland Skoda Artic Tampere.jpg
Škoda Artic light rail train near the cathedral in Tampere, Finland

Light rail is a catchall term for a variety of systems, which may include characteristics of trams, heavier passenger trains, and rapid transit systems. [78]

Specialized trains

There are a number of specialized trains which differ from the traditional definition of a train as a set of vehicles which travels on two rails.

Monorail

A Tokyo Monorail train Tokyo-Monorail-Type1000-1082F-EV.jpg
A Tokyo Monorail train

Monorails were developed to meet medium-demand traffic in urban transit, and consist of a train running on a single rail, typically elevated. Monorails represent a small proportion of the train systems in use worldwide. Almost all monorail trains use linear induction motors[ failed verification ] [79] [ non-primary source needed ] [80] [ unreliable source? ]

Maglev

Maglev technology uses magnets to levitate the train above the track, reducing friction and allowing higher speeds. [81] The first commercial maglev train was an airport shuttle introduced in 1984 at Birmingham Airport in England. [82] [ failed verification ]

The Shanghai maglev train, opened in 2002, is the fastest commercial train service of any kind, operating at speeds of up to 431 km/h (268 mph). [83] Japan's L0 Series maglev holds the record for the world's fastest train ever, with a top speed of 603.0 kilometers per hour (374.7 mph). [84] Maglev has not yet been used for inter-city mass transit routes, with only a few examples in use worldwide as of 2019. [83]

Mine trains

Mine trains are operated in large mines and carry both workers and goods. They are usually powered by electricity, to prevent emissions which would pose a health risk to workers underground. [85] [ globalize ]

A preserved armored train Scale 2401.jpg
A preserved armored train

Militarized trains

While they have long been important in transporting troops and military equipment, trains have occasionally been used for direct combat. Armored trains have been used in a number of conflicts, as have railroad based artillery systems. [86] [87] Railcar-launched ICBM systems have also been used by nuclear weapon states. [88]

Rack railway

For climbing steep slopes, specialized rack railroads are used. In order to avoid slipping, a rack and pinion system is used, with a toothed rail placed between the two regular rails, which meshes with a drive gear under the locomotive. [89]

Funicular

Funiculars are also used to climb steep slopes, but instead of a rack use a rope, which is attached to two cars and a pulley. [90] The two funicular cars travel up and down the slope on parallel sets of rails when the pulley is rotated. This design makes funiculars an efficient means of moving people and cargo up and down slopes. [91] The earliest funicular railroad, the Reisszug, opened around 1500. [91]

Rubber-tired train

Rubber tire trains, or rubber-tired metro systems, employ rubber tires for traction and guidance, offering advantages like better acceleration and reduced noise. However, they come with disadvantages, including higher costs for installation and maintenance, faster tire wear, and complex tire inflation mechanisms that require regular upkeep. Nonetheless, these systems are utilized in many urban rapid transit networks worldwide, enhancing passenger comfort and urban transportation efficiency.

Freight trains

A Union Pacific freight train; high clearances enable double-stacked containers to be carried in well cars. Union Pacific train (26862149220).jpg
A Union Pacific freight train; high clearances enable double-stacked containers to be carried in well cars.

Freight trains are dedicated to the transport of cargo (also known as goods), rather than people, and are made up of freight cars or wagons. Longer freight trains typically operate between classification yards, while local trains provide freight service between yards and individual loading and unloading points along railroad lines. [92] Major origin or destination points for freight may instead be served by unit trains, which exclusively carry one type of cargo and move directly from the origin to the destination and back without any intermediate stops. [93]

Under the right circumstances, transporting freight by train is less expensive than other modes of transport, and also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road. In the United States, railroads on average moved a ton of freight 702 kilometers (436 mi) per gallon of fuel, as of 2008, an efficiency four times greater than that of trucks. [94] [95] The Environmental and Energy Study Institute estimates that train transportation of freight is between 1.9 and 5.5 times more efficient than by truck, and also generates significantly less pollution. [63] Rail freight is most economic when goods are being carried in bulk and over large distances, but it is less suited to short distances and small loads. [95] With the advent of containerization, freight rail has become part of an intermodal freight network linked with trucking and container ships. [96]

The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility and for this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are trying to encourage more freight back on to trains because of the community benefits that it would bring. [97]

Cultural impact

A wooden toy train set from Swedish manufacturer Brio Brio train on tracks.jpg
A wooden toy train set from Swedish manufacturer Brio

From the dawn of railroading, trains have had a significant cultural impact worldwide. Fast train travel made possible in days or hours journeys which previously took months. Transport of both freight and passengers became far cheaper, allowing for networked economies over large areas. [98] Towns and cities along railroad lines grew in importance, while those bypassed declined or even became ghost towns. [98] [99] Major cities such as Chicago became prominent because they were places where multiple train lines met. [100] In the United States, the completion of the first transcontinental railroad played a major role in the settling of the western part of the nation by non-indigenous migrants and its incorporation into the rest of the country. [101] The Russian Trans-Siberian Railway had a similar impact by connecting the vast country from east to west, and making travel across the frozen Siberia possible. [102]

Trains have long had a major influence on music, art, and literature. [103] Many films heavily involve or are set on trains. [104] Toy train sets are commonly used by children, traditionally boys. [105] [106] Railfans are found around the world, along with hobbyists who create model train layouts. [107] Train enthusiasts generally have a positive relationship with the railroad industry, though sometimes cause issues by trespassing. [107]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-speed rail</span> Fastest rail-based transport systems

High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport network utilizing trains that run significantly faster than those of traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, lines built to handle speeds above 250 km/h (155 mph) or upgraded lines in excess of 200 km/h (125 mph) are widely considered to be high-speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiple unit</span> Self-propelled train

A multiple-unit train is a self-propelled train composed of one or more carriages joined, and where one or more of the carriages have the means of propulsion built in. By contrast, a locomotive-hauled train has all of the carriages unpowered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR Group</span> State-owned railway company in Finland

VR-Group Plc, commonly known as VR, is a government-owned railway company in Finland. VR's most important function is the operation of Finland's passenger rail services with 250 long-distance and 800 commuter rail services every day. With 7,500 employees and net sales of €1,251 million in 2017, VR is one of the most significant operators in the Finnish public transport market area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric locomotive</span> Locomotive powered by electricity

An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas turbines, are classed as diesel–electric or gas turbine–electric and not as electric locomotives, because the electric generator/motor combination serves only as a power transmission system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streamliner</span> Vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance

A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired upright and recumbent bicycles. As part of the Streamline Moderne trend, the term was applied to passenger cars, trucks, and other types of light-, medium-, or heavy-duty vehicles, but now vehicle streamlining is so prevalent that it is not an outstanding characteristic. In land speed racing, it is a term applied to the long, slender, custom built, high-speed vehicles with enclosed wheels.

Rail transport terms are a form of technical terminology applied to railways. Although many terms are uniform across different nations and companies, they are by no means universal, with differences often originating from parallel development of rail transport systems in different parts of the world, and in the national origins of the engineers and managers who built the inaugural rail infrastructure. An example is the term railroad, used in North America, and railway, generally used in English-speaking countries outside North America and by the International Union of Railways. In English-speaking countries outside the United Kingdom, a mixture of US and UK terms may exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Victoria</span> Overview of rail transport in Victoria, Australia

Rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. The network consists of 2,357 km of Victorian broad gauge lines, and 1,912 km of standard gauge freight and interstate lines; the latter increasing with gauge conversion of the former. Historically, a few experimental 762 mm gauge lines were built, along with various private logging, mining and industrial railways. The rail network radiates from the state capital, Melbourne, with main interstate links to Sydney and to Adelaide, as well as major lines running to regional centres, upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail freight transport</span> Practice of transporting cargo by rail

Rail freight transport is the use of railways and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieselisation</span> Conversion to diesel fuel in vehicles, especially locomotives

Dieselisation is the process of equipping vehicles with a diesel engine or diesel engines.

This article contains a list of jargon used to varying degrees by railway enthusiasts, trainspotters, and railway employees in the United Kingdom, including nicknames for various locomotives and multiple units. Although not exhaustive, many of the entries in this list appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications. There may be significant regional variation in usage.

This article contains a list of terms, jargon, and slang used to varying degrees by railfans and railroad employees in the United States and Canada. Although not exhaustive, many of the entries in this list appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications. Inclusion of a term in this list does not necessarily imply its universal adoption by all railfans and railroad employees, and there may be significant regional variation in usage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Queensland</span>

The rail network in Queensland, Australia, was the first in the world to adopt 1,067 mm narrow gauge for a main line, and, in 2013, was claimed to the second largest narrow gauge network in the world, consists of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger train</span> Train used to carry people

A passenger train is a train used to transport people along a railroad line, as opposed to a freight train that carries goods. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars. Passenger trains stop at stations or depots, where passengers may board and disembark. In most cases, passenger trains operate on a fixed schedule and have priority over freight trains.

This article lists some of the terminology used at present and in the past by Australian railway employees, contractors, railway historians and railway enthusiasts. Many of the terms appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in China</span>

Rail transport is an important mode of long-distance transportation in China. As of 2024, the country had more than 159,000 km (98,798 mi)[a] of railways, the second longest network in the world. By the end of 2023, China had more than 45,000 kilometres of high-speed rail (HSR), the longest HSR network in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern California Railway Museum</span> Railroad museum in Perris, California

The Southern California Railway Museum, formerly known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum, is a railroad museum in Perris, California, United States. It was founded in 1956 at Griffith Park in Los Angeles before moving to the former Pinacate Station as the "Orange Empire Trolley Museum" in 1958. It was renamed "Orange Empire Railway Museum" in 1975 after merging with a museum then known as the California Southern Railroad Museum, and adopted its current name in 2019. The museum also operates a heritage railroad on the museum grounds and on a right of way into Downtown Perris, CA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freight train</span> Train used to transport freight

A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad cars which carry freight. A wide variety of cargos are carried on trains, but the low friction inherent to rail transport means that freight trains are especially suited to carrying bulk and heavy loads over longer distances.

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