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

Why don't trains in the US have electric locomotive engines?

Best Answers

One of the main reasons is the sheer size of the two countries that make up North America. Canada is the second largest country in the world and America only slightly smaller in area. read more

The diesel locomotives are extremely efficient, and use electric traction motors to turn the wheels and pull the train, the diesel engine only turns the main generator, which is actually an alternator these days, to power the locomotive and all its systems. read more

The electrical drives used on trains have huge starting torque, and the torque profile stays relatively flat compared to a normal engine over its working range. Electrical drives don't care about how much torque is needed, as long as enough current can be supplied and maintained, and the windings kept cool, it will keep turning. read more

There are not many differences between diesel locomotives and electric ones, because they both use electric traction motors to move along the rails, and pull the train cars, the electric gets it power from the overhead wires or third rail on subway trains, while the diesel locomotive uses the diesel engine to turn the generator, (which is actually an alternator these days) to produce electricity for the electric traction motors. read more

Encyclopedia Research

Wikipedia:

Image Answers

gg1 electric locomotive 3d model
Source: turbosquid.com