Table of Contents
What were the advantages of the locomotive?
Being simply power-converting, rather than power-generating, devices, electric locomotives have several advantages. They can draw on the resources of the central power plant to develop power greatly in excess of their nominal ratings to start a heavy train or to surmount a steep grade at high speed.
What are the disadvantages of the steam engine?
Disadvantages: Steam engines are usually huge and heavy. Because of this, it is tough to transport them from one place to another. Steam engines have a lower efficiency as compared to other heat engines.
What are the advantages of steam trains?
Transporting Goods. The steam locomotive allowed for the transportation of goods at a much more rapid rate than by horse. The railroad let people know exactly where and when goods would arrive. The trains also gave the cargo a safer ride as it was much more difficult to rob a train than a horse drawn transport.
How does a steam locomotive work?
When heated, water turns to an invisible vapor known as steam. The volume of water expands as it turns to steam inside the boiler, creating a high pressure. The expansion of steam pushes the pistons that connect to the driving wheels that operate the locomotive.
What is a driving wheel on a steam locomotive?
Driving wheel. On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive ‘s pistons (or turbine, in the case of a steam turbine locomotive ). On a conventional, non-articulated locomotive, the driving wheels are all coupled together with side rods (also known as coupling rods );
What is the gear size of a steam locomotive?
Since a conventional steam locomotive is directly driven, one of the few ways to ‘ gear ‘ a locomotive for a particular performance goal is to size the driving wheels appropriately. Freight locomotives generally had driving wheels between 40 and 60 inches (1,016 and 1,524 mm) in diameter; dual-purpose locomotives generally between 60…
What kind of fuel did early steam locomotives use?
Finnish State Railways Tk3 freight train engine. Note the funnel-like smokestack and the firewood in the tender. Not all early steam locomotives had these, but a lot of North American ones did. On the Western frontier, most railroads used wood as fuel, and wood, unlike coal and oil, makes sparks.
How many wheels does a 4 8 4 locomotive have?
The four driving wheels on one side of a 4-8-4 locomotive. Driving wheels are generally larger than leading or trailing wheels. Since a conventional steam locomotive is directly driven, one of the few ways to ‘gear’ a locomotive for a particular performance goal is to size the driving wheels appropriately.