What, if any is the difference beyween an engine and a locomotive?
Technically speaking, the engine is the item that converts steam pressure to mechanical motion (on a steam locomotive), or contains the explosion and harnesses the energy as mechanical motion (internal combustion engine). The locomotive includes all the other parts associated with using this energy to move freight or passengers. For example, on a steam locomotive, that would be the tender, boiler, injectors, pumps, braking systems, etc.
What’s the difference between an engine and a motor? Is it that one is steam or combustion and the other is electric?
on non steam locomotives… engin is a genaric term that refures to the whole unit… but… the actuly propor name to the “engin” itself is called the prime mover…
csx engineer
an engin is anything that conversts fuel (stored chemical energy) into mechanical energy…a motor takes electrial energy an truns it into mechanical energy…
csx engineer
An engine produces power either thru internal combustion ( diesel, gas etc.) external conbustion ( coalfired, nuclear etc.) or other types of power. A motor consumes power whether its electrical, hydraulic , pnuematic etc. to produce a mechanical effect. Many people refer to locomotives as engines (steam engines, diesel engines, etc.) when in fact they are often made up of both an engine and motors. It is rare to hear an electric locomotive called an engine as it only has controll gear and motors with no onboard engine to produce power. [2c] As always ENJOY
What is the difference between an engine and an automobile? Same difference.
We have the same conundrum in the fire service. A pumping apparatus is usually called an engine (although pumper is often used). An aerial apparatus is likewise called a truck. But - in each case, the terms can be generally be used interchangebly and everyone will know exactly what you mean.
It’s really the same thing in railroading.
One N&W Mechanical engineer said that a Y-6 2-8-8-2 locomotive had something like 19 engines. Counting all four of the big cylinders (each piston represented an engine), plus two each for the two air pumps, one for the feedwater heater pump (Worthington BL), the turbogenerator (nobody said an engine had to have pistons), the two cylinder stoker engine, the two steam grate shaker cylinders, the four air cylinders for the engine brakes, the brake cylinder on the tender, etc. A Y-6b, with a Worthington SA feedwater heater, had both a cold and hot water pump so it had 20.
Old Timer