Lexi Webster
Australia and the United States are two of the few countries that can compete with each other in terms of the length of their trains and the distances covered by freight and passenger services. However, there is a difference in the size of their locomotives. Several factors determine the size of a locomotive, including overall weight, engine size, and power. American locomotives are larger than those in many other countries, including Australia, due to the vast distances they need to cover and the heavier loading gauge they were built with, allowing for taller and longer trains. In contrast, European locomotives, including those in Australia, tend to be smaller, lighter, and geared for higher speeds and acceleration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for larger locomotives in the US | The US has a stronger and heavier loading gauge, allowing for taller and longer trains. The country also has to cover long distances from coast to coast. |
| Locomotive weight | A European ES64U locomotive weighs 87 tons, while an Australian 5000 Class locomotive weighs 180 tons. |
| Power output | A modern diesel Vectron locomotive has a power output of 2400kW. The 5000 Class locomotive uses a 3000kw / 4000hp power plant. |
| Number of locomotives | In the US, it is common to see two or three locomotives working together to haul trains. In Australia, consists can have one locomotive on the front and one at the rear, with a third added when the consist reaches up to 96 wagons. |
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What You'll Learn
Why are US locomotives bigger?
The size of a locomotive is determined by several factors, including overall weight, engine size (length and height), and power in terms of raw horsepower, tractive effort, and shaft horsepower. US locomotives are bigger than their Australian counterparts due to various reasons. Firstly, the vastness of the United States plays a significant factor. With a distance of at least 2,000 miles from coast to coast, trains need to be large and powerful enough to traverse these long stretches. In contrast, Australia, despite having vast landscapes, does not have the same coast-to-coast distance as the US.
Secondly, the rail gauge in the US is built with a stronger and heavier loading gauge, allowing for taller and longer trains compared to other countries. This is also the case in other countries like Russia, China, and Canada, where larger loading gauges enable bigger locomotives. The North American loading gauge is less restrictive, enabling the use of bigger trains that can carry heavier loads.
Another reason for the larger size of US locomotives is the nature of their operations. US trains often pull long and slow trains, requiring multiple units, including hidden units controlled via radio to manage in-train forces. In contrast, European trains tend to have one or two locomotives, with additional units being less common due to coupler strength limitations. The focus in Europe is on gearing and weight, with locomotives being smaller, lighter, and geared for higher speeds and acceleration, allowing for better coexistence with passenger traffic.
Lastly, the specific purpose of the locomotives also plays a role. For example, Australia's 5000 Class Locomotive, used solely for coal trains in New South Wales' Hunter Valley, has a weight of 180 tonnes and is powered by a 3000kw / 4000hp power plant, similar to some locomotives in the USA. However, this locomotive is designed for the unique requirements of coal transportation, showcasing how locomotive size and design can vary based on specific operational needs.
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Locomotive weight and power
Several factors determine the size of a locomotive, including the overall weight, length, height, and power. The power of a locomotive can be in terms of raw horsepower, tractive effort, available power at axles (shaft horsepower), or, in the case of steam locomotives, available steam on a sustained basis.
The weight of a locomotive is a crucial factor in its performance and capacity. Heavier locomotives have more traction on the driving axles, allowing them to pull heavier loads. The weight of a locomotive is influenced by its design, construction materials, and the presence of additional components such as larger fuel tanks or cargo.
In terms of weight and power, Australian locomotives can compete with those in the United States. Australia's 5000 Class Locomotive, for example, has a weight of 180 tonnes and a power output of 3000 kW or 4000 hp. This is comparable to some American locomotives, such as the AC4400CW and the Dash 7 series, which use the same power plant as the 5000 Class Locomotive.
However, it is worth noting that the United States has a history of building and utilizing larger and more powerful locomotives due to the vast distances and cargo requirements within the country. The North American loading gauge allows for bigger trains that can carry heavier loads. This results in American locomotives often being taller, longer, and having a higher loading capacity compared to their European counterparts.
In contrast, European locomotives, including those in the United Kingdom, tend to be smaller, lighter, and geared for higher speeds and acceleration. This allows them to efficiently coexist with passenger traffic and navigate the varying terrain and distances within Europe.
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Rail gauge and loading gauge
The rail gauge is the distance between the inner rail edges, and the loading gauge refers to the maximum height and width of a train that can safely pass through a section of a railway.
In Australia, there are three mainline rail gauges that were initiated in the early years of railway development and remain in operation today. The diversity of track gauges arose when each colony was independently building rail lines to transport agricultural produce and minerals to ports. The colonies were also in fierce competition over trade with the United Kingdom, which contributed to their isolationist attitudes towards each other.
During the 1850s, the lack of local expertise in rail transport made decisions about the choice of gauge challenging. Additionally, the colony of New South Wales initially selected a different gauge than the projects already underway in South Australia and Victoria, creating a "break of gauge" problem.
The first attempt to unify the gauges occurred in 1857, but politicians were more interested in maximizing railway development at minimal construction costs. Even after the Australian colonies federated in 1901 and trade barriers were removed, the short-sightedness of having three gauges persisted for many years. It wasn't until 1995 that standard-gauge rails connected all the mainland state capitals, but regional routes remained largely unconverted.
Australia's standard gauge is 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm), which is the same as the British standard gauge. However, there are also broad-gauge lines with a width of 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), and narrower gauges of 610 mm (2 ft) found on shorter lines, particularly sugarcane tramways in Queensland.
In comparison, the United States also uses a standard gauge of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm), but has a less restrictive loading gauge. This means they can operate bigger trains that can be taller and longer, carrying heavier loads.
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Consist length
The length of a train can be measured in the number of wagons or cars, or in metres or feet for general freight. The length of a freight train can range from 140 feet (a combination of one locomotive and one train car) to over 18,000 feet or 3.4 miles (pulling 295 cars). In the United States, freight trains are limited to 180 wagons or cars due to their air brake and electronically controlled pneumatic brake capacity.
The length of a train directly impacts its functionality. Longer trains can carry more weight and improve efficiency and lower emissions by reducing the number of crossing activations, which is the most likely time for a collision between a train and vehicles. However, longer trains can also cause delays for motorists and impede emergency response times by blocking road crossings for extended periods.
The development of distributed power, where locomotives are placed in the middle or at the rear of the consist and controlled remotely from the lead unit, has enabled the operation of very long freight trains exceeding 6 kilometres or 3.7 miles in length. This configuration allows for longer and heavier consists by distributing traction and braking forces more evenly throughout the train, reducing the risk of derailment, particularly on curves.
While I could not find specific information about consist length in Australia, it is worth noting that Australia, like the United States, has a large loading gauge, allowing for the use of larger trains that can carry heavier loads.
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Unique Australian locomotives
Australia is one of the few countries that import locomotives from the United States. However, Australian locomotives have unique features that set them apart from those in other countries, including the United States.
One unique aspect of Australian locomotives is their size and power. While American locomotives are known for their large size and high power output, Australian locomotives are also designed to be large and powerful to accommodate the vast distances and heavy loads within the country. This is evident in the loading gauges used in Australia, which allow for taller and longer trains compared to some other countries.
Another unique feature of Australian locomotives is the wheel arrangement. The "Pacific" type locomotive, introduced to the Great Northern Railway in 1922, has four-coupled driving wheels with a leading bogie. This arrangement has been widely adopted by various railways in the United Kingdom and Australia, with nearly 3,000 still in use as of 1930. The "Atlantic" type locomotive, first built in Great Britain by Mr. H. A. Ivatt on the Great Northern Railway in 1899, is another example of a unique wheel arrangement found in Australian locomotives.
In addition to their size and wheel arrangements, Australian locomotives also stand out for their water capacity. The LNER "Pacific" tenders, for example, have a water capacity of 5,000 gallons, which is significantly larger than the standard type of tender fitted to the "Royal Scot" with a capacity of 3,500 gallons.
The history of Australian locomotives is also unique. The country has a range of well-known railway manufacturer brands, such as Bachmann Branchline, Hornby, and Graham Farish, that have contributed to the development of rail locomotives and locomotive sets.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, US locomotives are larger than Australian ones. This is because the US is at least 2,000 miles from coast to coast, and trains need to be big and strong enough to cover this distance.
US locomotives are large because they have to cover long distances across the country. They also have a stronger and heavier loading gauge, which means their trains can be taller and longer.
Australia's 5000 Class Locomotive is unique and interesting. Twelve of these locomotives were constructed between 2005 and 2007 at the United Goninans facility in Broadmeadow, New South Wales.
The power sources for Australian locomotives include the 3000kw / 4000hp General Electric 7FDL16 power plant, which is also used in some US locomotives.
