Diesel electric locomotives use a diesel engine to power an electrical generator, which provides electricity to motors that drive the wheels. They are reliable, easy to start, and can work on any type of track. They were first used in Sweden in 1913 and quickly replaced steam locomotives due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
A diesel electric locomotive is the most common type of locomotive, or train engine, currently in use on railways around the world. In this type of locomotive, a diesel engine provides power to an electrical generator. The electricity generated provides power to the motors attached to the wheels of the locomotive, turning the wheels and allowing it to move.
In a diesel electric locomotive, the engine is not a drive motor that turns the wheels and moves the train, as is often believed. The diesel engine is basically a power source. This is useful because diesel engines have several advantages. They are extremely reliable, easy to start, and are much easier to service than other types of engines. Having its own power source, the diesel electric locomotive can work on any type of track.
The diesel electric locomotive engine provides power to an electrical generator. In this way, the locomotive provides electricity to separate motors that drive the wheels of the locomotive. These are called traction motors. Traction motors are located inside the locomotive and drive the axles connected to the wheels of the locomotive. This action moves the wheels of the locomotive, causing the locomotive to travel down the track, bringing the rest of the train with it.
The diesel electric locomotive was first used in Sweden in 1913. It combined diesel engine technology created in 1892 by Dr. Rudolf Diesel in Germany, with technology created in 1866 by Frank Sprague for use in road cars. electrical in the United States. The diesel electric locomotive was soon used in several European countries. Use in the United States came a bit later when General Electric began working on a design during World War I, but soon decided to build the electrical portions. Other companies built the bodies, and by the late 1920s several companies were producing diesel electric locomotives for various railroad lines in the United States.
Once production began, the diesel electric locomotive was quickly adopted by the railways. It had several advantages over earlier steam locomotives. Steam locomotives were very slow to start and often required expensive maintenance and repairs. They also had to stop often to collect fuel, using huge amounts of coal and water. In contrast, diesel electric locomotives could run much longer between stops and were much less expensive to maintain, making them a cost-effective option for modern railways.
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