How are trains made?

Question

I'm trying to find out how trains are made. Not toy trains or model trains, but real ones. Either freight or passenger, it doesn't matter. I'm just looking for the basics, thank you.

Answer 1

Trains are made up at a Switching Yard. Switch engines usually do that work. The cars are put in a track, or "blocked". That is to say, blocks of cars. If 10 cars are going to be set out at the first town down the line by the train once it has left the switching yard, those 10 cars will be right behind the engines. The next block of cars now behind the engines will be in place for the next stop, or "set out". And so on. Usually this system is how "local" trains are assembled. "Local" means it is a train that stops to deliver cars to other railroads and to industries along its normal route. A local may travel just 10 miles on its normal run, and some travel 200 miles. And it will return to the yard where the train was initially made up. Ordinarily, it picks up the waiting cars it dropped off earlier on its return trip, and brings those back to the yard to be either blocked on another local, or consisted in to a "through train" that may be going to one of the coasts or to another state, or Canada. Through trains don't necessarily return to the yard where they were initially made up, and don't set out cars.

Answer 2

Visit the bombardier train company in Derby or try their website or watch trainspotting on the discovery channel

Answer 3

Locomotives (EMD) are actually built upside down.

With the frame (which is actually the only piece of standard equipment.  Everything else is by order) laying on its back, all of the under pinnings are put in place, such as cabling, piping, fuel tank, etc.

When all is in place, the frame is righted, and the rest of the components are added to complete the locomotive.

Addendum:   Well, if it's good ol' semantics that is at issue, then I'll tell you why the following is right.

A train, by railroad definition is:

"An engine, with or without cars, displaying marker."

So, if we're going to pick fly p**p out of pepper, a train is made when the marker is applied to the rear of the rear car or displayed to the rear of the locomotive, Petero.  I spent a little time in the operating department too.

So, within the parameters of that paradigm, you are correct.  Everyone so far, including yourself, is incorrect.

Answer 4

Try to find 'A Study in Steel', a 1935 film made by the London Midland and Scottish Railway chronicling the construction of a 'Princess Royal' class locomotive in Crewe Works.

Answer 5

Everyone, so far is wrong.

you asked how a train is made, a train is:-

1. Locomotive or Locomotives

2. Freight cars (various commodities) and/or passenger cars.

Trains are made up in railyards, and which car goes on which train, depends on the commodity being carried, the destination of the rail car and the route the train will take to it's final destination.

On route to the final destination, cars are set off and other lifted.

This is basically how a train is made.

Not a locomotive as other people have said.

Answer 6

You might try watching the science channel the show how it's made I believe they had a show on that. they rerun quite frequent.

Answer 7

Just a note. Locomotives were assembled at Electromotive in McCook/Countryside Illinois.