Shay locomotive

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/shay-locomotive

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 vehicle type?Geared steam locomotive
2. What is the inventor?Ephraim Shay
3. How does a Shay locomotive climb steep hills?It climbs steep hills because its gears spread power to all the wheels and give lots of pulling force, even on a 15% slope.
4. Why were Shay locomotives important for logging and mining?They let companies reach far forests and mountains, so they could cut more trees and mine more ore. This helped build more houses and roads.

Geared locomotive: A steam locomotive that employs a system of gears to transmit power to the wheels, enhancing tractive effort.
Tractive effort: The pulling force a locomotive can exert, crucial for moving heavy loads.
Gradient: The steepness of a slope, often expressed as a percentage.
Bogie: A wheeled frame or assembly that supports a railway car or locomotive, allowing for articulation.