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Table of Contents
A train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of vehicles that usually runs along a rail track to transport cargo or passengers to and from various destinations. See below for more information, resources, and facts about trains.
For more information on the history of Trains read the fact file below or download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Train Facts
- A train consists of a group of connected vehicles that run along a railway track.
- Trains transport both people and freight.
- The word train comes from the Old French word trahiner, meaning “to pull, to draw”.
- Trains are typically pushed or pulled by locomotives (often known simply as “engines”).
- Passengers and cargo are both carried in railroad cars, which are also called wagons.
- Trains are designed to a certain gauge, which is the distance between the rails or tracks.
- Most trains operate on steel tracks with steel wheels, the low friction making them more efficient than other forms of transport.
History of the Train
- In 1804 a steam locomotive built by British inventor Richard Trevithick powered the first steam train.
- Outside of coal mines, where fuel was readily available, steam locomotives remained unused until 1825 and the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northeast England.
- A British engineer named George Stephenson ran a steam locomotive named Locomotive No.1 on this 25-mile (40-kilometer) long line and hauled more than 400 passengers at speeds of up to 8 mph (13 kph).
- The success of this locomotive convinced many people of the value of steam locomotives, and within a decade, the stock market bubble known as “Railway Mania” started across the United Kingdom.
- News of the success of steam locomotives quickly reached the United States, where the first steam railroad opened in 1829.
- American railroad pioneers soon started manufacturing their own locomotives designed to handle the sharper curves and rougher tracks typical of the country’s railroads.
- Trains first entered service in South America, Africa, and Asia through construction by imperial powers, who built railroads to solidify control of their colonies and transport cargo for export.
- In Japan, which was never colonized, railroads first arrived in the early 1870s.
- By 1900, railroads were operating on every continent besides uninhabited Antarctica.
Train Power
- The first trains were rope-hauled, gravity powered, or pulled by horses.
Steam
- Steam locomotives work by using a boiler to heat water into steam. This powers the locomotive’s pistons, which are in turn connected to the wheels. Steam locomotives are still used in heritage railways operated in many countries for the leisure and enthusiast market.
Diesel
- Diesel locomotives are powered by a diesel engine, which generates electricity to drive traction motors. This is known as a diesel-electric transmission and is used on most diesel trains. Diesel power replaced steam for several reasons. Diesel locomotives were less complex, more reliable, cheaper, cleaner, easier to maintain, and more fuel efficient.
Electric
- Electric trains receive their current via overhead lines, which are used to power traction motors that drive the wheels. Electric traction offers a lower cost per mile of train operation but at a higher initial cost, which can only be justified on high traffic lines. Compared to diesel locomotives, electric locomotives accelerate much faster and produce no direct emissions making them better suited to passenger service, especially underground.
Types of Trains
Passenger Train
- Passenger trains are used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars, also known as coaches or carriages, hauled by one or more locomotives. Passenger trains travel between stations, where passengers may board and disembark. Passenger trains usually operate on a fixed schedule. Passenger trains can also be divided into short and long-distance services.
Long Distance Train
- Long-distance passenger trains travel over hundreds or even thousands of miles between cities. In general, long-distance trains may take days to complete their journeys and stop at dozens of stations along their routes. For many rural communities, they are the only form of public transportation available.
Short Distance Train
- Short-distance passenger trains have travel times measured in hours or even minutes. They usually run more frequently than long-distance trains and are often used by commuters. Short-distance passenger trains are specifically designed for commuters.
High-Speed Train
- High-speed trains are designed to be much faster than conventional trains. They typically run on their own separate tracks from other, slower trains. The first high-speed train was opened in 1964 in Japan.
Monorail Train
- Monorails were developed to meet medium-demand traffic in urban transit. They consist of a train running on a single rail that is typically elevated. Monorails are a small proportion of the train systems in use worldwide.
Mine Train
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Mine trains, operating in large mines, carry both goods and workers. They are usually powered by electricity to prevent emissions which would pose a health risk to workers underground.
Freight Train
- Freight trains are used solely to transport cargo (also known as goods) rather than people and are made up of wagons or freight cars. Transporting freight by train is usually less expensive than other modes of transport and also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road.
Did You Know?
- The first underground railway was made in London.
- The longest name for a train station is in Wales Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch or Llanfair PG. Translated to English, it means “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave.”
- The longest route for one train is between Moscow and Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian Express railway line. It is 5,772ml (9,297 kilometers) long.
- Grand Central Station in New York, which has been in operation since February 2, 1913, has 44 passenger platforms and 67 tracks.
- The Trans-Australian Railway is the longest stretch of perfectly straight railway track. It is nearly 300 ml (478 km) long.
- Trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways you can travel. You can also view beautiful scenery while traveling.
- America’s first steam locomotive lost a race to a horse.
- Trains have long had a major influence on art, music, and literature.
- Toy train sets are loved by children all over the world.
- The term railfans refer to hobbyists who create model train layouts.
Train Worksheets
This bundle contains 9 ready-to-use Train Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about Trains which are a form of rail transport consisting of a series of vehicles that usually runs along a rail track to transport cargo or passengers to and from various destinations. See below for more information, resources, and facts about trains.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- Train Facts
- Color Me!
- Train Records
- Early Trains
- The Busiest Train Station
- Speedy Train
- Number Train
- Train Travel
- Train Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a train do?
Trains transport both people and goods/cargo. They are an important form of transportation all over the world. They chug across short distances or entire continents, delivering people or things to different destinations.
What do you call the person who operates a train?
The person operating a train is called a train driver, an engine driver, or an engineman. They can also be called locomotive drivers, locomotive handlers, or locomotive operators.
How fast do trains go?
Different trains go at different speeds. There are goods trains and passenger trains, and high-speed trains. However, the average speed for most trains is between 30 – 50 mph.
What age groups play with train sets?
All age groups of people play with train sets, from toddlers to octogenarians. Wooden train sets are safe for toddlers to play with. Dads often start buying electric train sets for their children because they like to play with them too.
What is Thomas the Tank Engine?
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional tank locomotive. It is a blue steam engine with the number 1 painted on its side. There are books and television shows about the life of this fun little engine.
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Link will appear as Train Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 15, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.