List of locomotives

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/list-of-locomotives

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary function?To provide motive power for trains, distinguishing them from self-propelled multiple units
2. What is the economic impact?Essential for large-scale freight transport, global trade, and long-distance passenger connectivity
3. What is a locomotive?A locomotive is a special train vehicle that gives the power to pull or push other cars. It is separate from the cars it moves. It can be steam, diesel, or electric.
4. Why did trains switch from steam to diesel?Steam engines used burning fuel to make steam, but they were less efficient and hard to run. Diesel engines use internal combustion, giving more power and easier use, so they became popular in the mid‑1900s.

Motive Power: The force or energy that propels a vehicle or system.
Multiple Unit: A train composed of self-propelled carriages, distributing power across the train.
Diesel-Electric Locomotive: A locomotive using a diesel engine to generate electricity for traction motors.
Heritage Railway: A railway preserved for historical and educational purposes, operating vintage rolling stock.