Train

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An electric multiple unit pulling into Tile Hill station; Coventry, England UK

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A train is a land-vehicle with flanged wheels which runs on a railway.

Types of trains

A train can consist of a combination of a locomotive and attached carriages (also known as cars) or wagons, or a self-propelled multiple unit (or occasionally a single powered coach, called a railcar). Special kinds of trains running on corresponding special 'railways' are monorail, high speed rail, rubber-tired underground, funicular and cog railway. Trains are for public transport or for freight. Multi-purpose trains, hauling both passengers and freight, have become rare in many countries.

A passenger train may consist of one or several locomotives, and one or more cars or carriages. Alternatively, a train may consist entirely of passenger carrying coaches, some or all of which are powered (multiple unit). Freight trains comprise wagons or trucks rather than carriages.

Traction

For more than a century almost all trains were powered by steam engines, but from the 1920s onwards they began to be replaced by diesel and electric trains, most countries had replaced steam trains by the 1970s. A few countries, most notably China and India where coal is in cheap and plentiful supply, still use steam trains, but this is being gradually phased out. Some historical steam trains still run in other countries.

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A French Steam Train of the early 20th century

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Modern locomotives and powered coaches may have a diesel engine and/or electric motors. On the most common form of diesel train, the diesel engine drives a generator which provides power for electric motors which turn the wheels (diesel-electric), or in some cases the power from the diesel engine is transferred to the wheels by hydraulic means (diesel-hydraulic). However diesel powered trains are expensive to run. Where a railway line has sufficient traffic to justify the expense, it may be electrified, to allow the running of electric powered trains, which are cheap to run, and have higher performance than diesel trains.

For straight electric trains the power to run the electric motors is generated at a power station and supplied to the train by some form of distribution system. There are two means of doing this, current may be supplied to the train by overhead wires, or by a third rail system. Funiculars do not have an engine within the vehicle, but are pulled on a cable by a motor in the station.

Passenger Trains

Passenger trains travel between stations; the distance between stations may vary from 1 km to much more.

Long-distance trains, sometimes crossing several countries, may have a dining car; they may also have sleeping cars, but not in the case of high speed rail, these arrive at their destination before the night falls and are in competition with airplanes in speed. Very long distance trains such as those on the Trans-Siberian railway are not high speed.

For trains connecting cities we can distinguish intercity trains, which do not halt at small stations, and trains that serve all stations, usually known as local trains (and sometimes an intermediate kind, see also limited-stop).

For shorter distances many cities have networks of commuter trains, serving the city and its suburbs. Some carriages may be laid out to have more standing room than seats or to facilitate the carrying of prams, cycles or wheelchairs. Some countries have some double-decked passenger trains for use in conurbations. Double deck high speed and sleeper trains are becoming more common in Europe.

Passenger trains usually have emergency brake handles that the public can operate. Abuse is fined.

Large cities often have a metro system, also called underground, subway or tube. The trains are electrically powered, usually by third rail, and their railroads are separate from other traffic, without level crossings. Usually they run in tunnels in the center and on elevated structures in the outer parts of the city. They can accelerate and decelerate faster than long-distance trains.

A light one- or two-car rail vehicle running through the streets is not called a train but a tram or streetcar, but the distinction is not strict.

The term light rail is sometimes used for a modern tram, but it may also mean an intermediate form between a tram and a train, similar to metro except that it may have level crossings. These are often protected with crossing gates.

Maglev trains and monorails represent minor technologies in the train field.

The term rapid transit is used for public transport such as commuter trains, metro and light-rail.

See also high speed rail, tilting train, people mover, trains in the Netherlands, trains in Germany, Maglev, level crossing, liberalization in train transport, driving.

Freight Trains

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Freight wagons filled with limestone await unloading, at sidings in Rugby England UK

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Much of the world's freight is transported by train. In countries such as the USA the rail system is used mostly for transporting freight.

Under the right circumstances, transporting freight by train is highly economic, and also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road.

Rail freight is most economic, when freight is being carried in bulk and over long distances. But is less suited to short distances and small loads.

The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibillity, for this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are now trying to encourage more freight onto trains, because of the environmental benefits that it would bring.

There are many different types of freight train, which are used to carry many different kinds of freight, with many different types of wagon. One of the most common types on modern railways are container trains, whereby the containers can be lifted on and off the train by cranes and loaded off or onto trucks or ships.

This type of freight train has largely superseded the traditional "box wagon" type of freight train, whereby the cargo had to be loaded or unloaded manually.

In some countries "piggy back" trains are used whereby trucks can drive straight onto the the train, and drive off again when the end destination is reached. A system like this is used on the Channel Tunnel between England and France.

There are also many other types of wagon, such as "low loader" wagons for transporting road vehicles. There are refrigerator wagons for transporting food. There are simple types of open-topped wagons for transporting minerals and bulk material such as coal and tankers for tranporting liquids and gases.

History

Trains were first utilized during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and have been used since to carry heavy loads over land. See rail transport, History of rail transport.

Famous train routes include the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian railway.

Train accidents in history

• 1962 Harmelen train disaster, mun. Woerden, Netherlands http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/accidents/harmelen/home.html
• 1963 The Great Train Robbery of 1963 (not related to the films below)
• 1977 Granville railway disaster
• 1998 Eschede train disaster
• 2000 Kaprun disaster.

Model railways

Toy trains have been popular with children since railroads were first built. In the 20th century, the hobby of model railroading, which attempts a more accurate depiction of railroad equipment and operation, gained popularity. Toy train collecting is also popular.

Fictional trains

• Hogwarts Express (Harry Potter)
• Taggart Comet (Atlas Shrugged)
• The Great Train Robbery -- first feature film to tell a story, also title of a modern film.
• Starlight Express (Andrew Lloyd Webber) -- Musical about an old steam engine being replaced by an electrical engine

External links

• High Speed Train
• Locomotives & Trainsets by Frans van den Hurk, featuring electric locomotives

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Other meanings

A caravan of wagons, mules or other forms of transport is also called a train.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word train comes from French roots that mean "to drag or draw". Thus, the word also refers to the trailing part of a bride's dress, as well as to a powder train leading to an explosive. The verb to train, meaning "to educate", embodies the idea of drawing the student along.