What is the technology behind a running electric train?

Question

What is the technology behind a running electric train?

Answer 1

Wikipedia has a basic description here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_ele...

The pickup of power by the locomotives is either by means of a contact shoe running on a third rail along side (usually) the track (the most common use is in subway systems) or by a pantograph (the sprung device mounted on the roof of the locomotive) that contacts the overhead wire. This method is used for mainline railways as well as light rail systems.

Power can be either D. C. or A. C. and, these days, may or may not be converted to D.C. before being sent to the traction motors on the driving axles. See this reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_po...

You can see photos of locomotives, pantographs and controls here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_lo...

Answer 2

They aren't what they used to be.    Most are  DC motors that draws power from the rails with power being supplied and varied by a DC transformer.

Answer 3

there is no great technology in it. the engine's receiver [the horn like metal erections] takes in A.C current and converts it into D.C  and then uses it in an electric engine.  the purpose of this conversin is easy transmission to various speeds of the train.

Answer 4

The same technology that has been used for atlest 100 years