Locomotive

Locomotive is the term used for a vehicle that propels a railroad train, that mainly consists of unpowered vehicles.^[1]^[2]

The first locomotives were powered by steam engines.^[1]

In the 20th century locomotives powered diesel engines largely supplanted steam locomotives, except for legacy routes.^[3] Most diesel locomotive rely on their diesel motors turning an electic generator, that, in turn, powers electric motors, because the gearbox was a component of diesel-mechanical locomotives that wore out very frequently. Early diesel locomotives were tested early in the 20th century. According to The Henry Ford Museum Diesel-electric's advantages were so profound that, between 1945 and 1955, 95 percent of new locomotives were diesel electric.^[4]

European railways largely use electrically powered locomotives, that tap an overhead power wire, through a pantograph

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "When Was the Steam Engine Invented? A Historical Overview". Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services. 2022-11-14. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2026-02-03. The steam locomotive is a self-propelled vehicle, primarily used to pull unpowered cars hauling passengers or goods along tracks made of iron or steel rails. It consists of a boiler to produce steam at high pressures, usually two steam engines that convert the steam into mechanical work, and a running gear.
↑ "8 diesel locomotive breakthroughs". Trains. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
↑ "A Closer Look at the History of Diesel Locomotives". CHIP Express™. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
↑ "Diesel-Electric Locomotives". The Henry Ford Museum. Retrieved 2026-02-03. After World War II, the "dieselization" of American railroads was rapid. Of the 21,000 new locomotives bought between 1945 and 1955, fully 95 percent were diesel-electric.

[strasburgrailroad2022-11-14-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "When Was the Steam Engine Invented? A Historical Overview". Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services. 2022-11-14. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2026-02-03. The steam locomotive is a self-propelled vehicle, primarily used to pull unpowered cars hauling passengers or goods along tracks made of iron or steel rails. It consists of a boiler to produce steam at high pressures, usually two steam engines that convert the steam into mechanical work, and a running gear.

[Trn2024-03-28-2] "8 diesel locomotive breakthroughs". Trains. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2026-02-03.

[ChipDiesel-3] "A Closer Look at the History of Diesel Locomotives". CHIP Express™. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-02-03.

[thehenryfordDieselLocomotives-4] "Diesel-Electric Locomotives". The Henry Ford Museum. Retrieved 2026-02-03. After World War II, the "dieselization" of American railroads was rapid. Of the 21,000 new locomotives bought between 1945 and 1955, fully 95 percent were diesel-electric.

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