Question:

Do Railway Engines have stearings to turn them on track?

by Guest64307  |  earlier

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Do Railway Engines have stearings to turn them on track?

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  1. A railway locomotive does not have a steering mechanism.  The trains have solid-axle wheels that have a guide flange on the inside (gage side) of each wheel that keeps the wheel on the top (head) of the rail.

    A Turnout (incorrectly called a switch) has a mechanism to where switch-point rails can be moved to direct the train onto a different branch, but the train is not "steered".


  2. No, the wheels follow the rails, and use "switches" to move from a track to another.

    Some modern locomotives have "steering" wheels to reduce friction in curves, but it has nothing to do with an automobile steering, the engineer (driver) doesn't have any control on them.

  3. They do not have steering mechanisms - you know why - cause a guy like me might like to take a turn when none exists

  4. Yes they do, all railroad equipment does but it is automatic, the subassembly that the wheels are mounted in pivot, this allows the engines and other railroad equipment to negotiate curves. The wheels and axles are not mounted rigidly to the engine or cars.

    The assembly in the U.S. is called a "truck" I believe in the U.K. they call it a "bogey".

    Same thing though, if something happens that locks this truck and it is not able to steer or pivot as the train goes around a curve it will derail very shortly.

    If you are asking if a person in the cab actually has to steer, the answer would be no.

  5. Absolutely!

  6. A railway engine doesn't steer. It is guided by the track. When a train changes tracks it does so by means of points (switches) which are junctions between the rail line with moveable rails. You can see this in operation at any rail yard or junction station.

  7. No, they follow the rails (tracks). They are designed so that they do not need to be steered.

  8. No, they don't. But thank you for a good laugh.

  9. If you listen to a train, especially on a curve, you'll hear the flanges squeeling on the rail.

    If we had a steering wheel, the engineer might have to stay awake. :)
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