How Do Diesel Locomotives Work
American Diesel Locomotives
How a Locomotive Works How a Locomotive Works • • • • • • • How an Engine Works Early engine inventors wanted to find a way to move heavy things. This is the reason they invented engines. Engines turn wheels -> Wheels move wagons -> Wagons carry cargo. All the different types of trains have the same job: to move the wheels of the wagons. Some used steam to get pistons to move, pushing the wheels forward.
Others used electricity (either through an wire or hot rail or through a combustion engine). The Maglev train is the only train that is not trying to move wheels. The magnets get the wagons to float above the ground and then the magnets push the train along.
Explore a hybrid-diesel locomotive -- from engine to engineer controls. The one on this train can make over 560 kilowatts (kW) of electrical power. How Diesel Locomotives Work Click here to print this article. Special thanks. The main reason why diesel locomotives are hybrid is because this eliminates the need for a mechanical transmission, as found in cars. Let's start by understanding why cars have transmissions. The IH is a DI (direct-injection) Diesel as are just about most truck engines, locomotives, and bigger stuff. The Fiat was an IDI (indirect-injection) Diesel. It has a combustion prechamber which requires a glow plug for starting.