Train vs. Locomotive — What's the Difference?

Typically powered by a locomotive.

Essential for the train's movement.

A series of connected vehicles traveling on railway tracks.

Can be positioned differently in a train.

Moves as a single unit in scheduled services.

Can be powered by diesel, electricity, or steam.

Can carry passengers or freight.

Does not typically carry passengers or freight.

May include various car types.

Engine vehicle that powers a train.

A train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that generally run along a railroad (or railway) track to transport passengers or cargo (also known as "freight" or "goods"). The word train comes from the Old French trahiner, derived from the Latin trahere meaning 'to pull, to draw'.Motive power for a train is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in a self-propelled multiple unit.

A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, motor coach, railcar or power car; the use of these self-propelled vehicles is increasingly common for passenger trains, but rare for freight (see CargoSprinter and Iron Highway).

Teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behaviour through sustained practice and instruction

A self-propelled vehicle, usually electric, diesel, or steam-powered, for pulling or pushing freight or passenger cars on railroad tracks.

Point or aim something, typically a gun or camera, at

A driving or pulling force; an impetus

Go by train

Of, relating to, or involved in locomotion.

Entice (someone).

Serving to put into motion or propel forward

A series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by integral motors

Able to move independently from place to place.

A number of vehicles or pack animals moving in a line

Of or relating to a self-propelled locomotive.

A long piece of material attached to the back of a formal dress or robe that trails along the ground

Of or relating to travel.

A trail of gunpowder for firing an explosive charge.

(rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.

A series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives.

(rare) A traction engine.

A long line of moving people, animals, or vehicles.

(slang) A cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed.

The personnel, vehicles, and equipment following and providing supplies and services to a combat unit.

(archaic) Any of various early road vehicles, steam-powered, etc., forerunners of the modern car.

A part of a gown that trails behind the wearer.

(economics) A country which drives the world economy by having a high level of imports, such as the United States.

A staff of people following in attendance; a retinue.

Of or relating to locomotion.

An orderly succession of related events or thoughts; a sequence.

Of or relating to the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself.

A series of consequences wrought by an event; aftermath.

Moving, or capable of motion.

A set of linked mechanical parts

Moving from place to place; changing place, or able to change place; as, a locomotive animal.

A string of gunpowder that acts as a fuse for exploding a charge.

Used in producing motion; as, the locomotive organs of an animal.

To coach in or accustom to a mode of behavior or performance.

A locomotive engine; a self-propelling wheel carriage, especially one which bears a steam boiler and one or more steam engines which communicate motion to the wheels and thus propel the carriage, - used to convey goods or passengers, or to draw wagons, railroad cars, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.

To make proficient with specialized instruction and practice.

A wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

To prepare physically, as with a regimen

Of or relating to locomotion

To cause (a plant or one's hair) to take a desired course or shape, as by manipulating.

To point or direct (a gun or camera, for example) at something.

To let drag behind; trail.

To give or undergo a course of training

To travel by railroad train.

Elongated or trailing portion.

The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground.

A trail or line of something, especially gunpowder.

The tail of a bird.

(obsolete) The tail of an animal in general.

(poetic) The elongated body or form of something narrow and winding, such as the course of a river or the body of a snake.

(astronomy) A transient trail of glowing ions behind a large meteor as it falls through the atmosphere or accompanying a comet as it nears the sun; tail.

An animal's trail or track.

Something dragged or laid along the ground to form a trail of scent or food along which to lure an animal.

(obsolete) Gait or manner of running of a horse.

Connected sequence of people or things.

A group of people following an important figure such as a king or noble; a retinue, a group of retainers.

A group of animals, vehicles, or people that follow one another in a line, such as a wagon train; a caravan or procession.

A group or class of people.

(military) The men and vehicles following an army, which carry artillery and other equipment for battle or siege.

A sequence of events or ideas which are interconnected; a course or procedure of something.

A set of things, events, or circumstances that follow after or as a consequence; aftermath, wake.

(obsolete) State of progress, status, situation (in phrases introduced by in a + adjective); also proper order or situation (introduced by in or in a alone).

A set of interconnected mechanical parts which operate each other in sequence.

A series of electrical pulses.

A series of specified vehicles (originally tramcars in a mine as usual, later especially railway carriages) coupled together.

A mechanical (traditionally steam-powered, now typically diesel or electrical) vehicle carrying a large number of passengers and freight along a designated track or path; a line of connected cars or carriages considered overall as a mode of transport; (as uncountable noun) rail or road travel.

A long, heavy sleigh used in Canada for the transportation of merchandise, wood, etc.

(computing) A software release schedule.

An act wherein series of men line up and then penetrate a person, especially as a form of gang rape.

Treachery; deceit.

A trick or stratagem.

A trap for animals, a snare; (figuratively) a trap in general.

A lure; a decoy.

A live bird, handicapped or disabled in some way, provided for a young hawk to kill as training or enticement.

(obsolete) train oil, whale oil.

(intransitive) To practice an ability.

(transitive) To teach and form (someone) by practice; to educate (someone).

(intransitive) To improve one's fitness.

(intransitive) To proceed in sequence.

(transitive) To move (a gun) laterally so that it points in a different direction.

To encourage (a plant or branch) to grow in a particular direction or shape, usually by pruning and bending.

To trace (a lode or any mineral appearance) to its head.

To create a trainer for; to apply cheats to (a game).

To draw (something) along; to trail, to drag (something).

To trail down or along the ground.

To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure.

To draw along; to trail; to drag.

To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure.

To teach and form by practice; to educate; to exercise; to discipline; as, to train the militia to the manual exercise; to train soldiers to the use of arms.

To break, tame, and accustom to draw, as oxen.

To lead or direct, and form to a wall or espalier; to form to a proper shape, by bending, lopping, or pruning; as, to train young trees.

To trace, as a lode or any mineral appearance, to its head.

To be drilled in military exercises; to do duty in a military company.

To prepare by exercise, diet, instruction, etc., for any physical contest; as, to train for a boat race.

That which draws along; especially, persuasion, artifice, or enticement; allurement.

Hence, something tied to a lure to entice a hawk; also, a trap for an animal; a snare.

That which is drawn along in the rear of, or after, something; that which is in the hinder part or rear.

That part of a gown which trails behind the wearer.

A number of followers; a body of attendants; a retinue; a suite.

The after part of a gun carriage; the trail.

A consecution or succession of connected things; a series.

The tail of a bird.

Regular method; process; course; order; as, things now in a train for settlement.

The number of beats of a watch in any certain time.

A line of gunpowder laid to lead fire to a charge, mine, or the like.

A connected line of cars or carriages on a railroad; - called also railroad train.

A heavy, long sleigh used in Canada for the transportation of merchandise, wood, and the like.

A roll train; as, a 12-inch train.

The aggregation of men, animals, and vehicles which accompany an army or one of its subdivisions, and transport its baggage, ammunition, supplies, and reserve materials of all kinds.

Public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive;

A sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding;

A procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file;

A series of consequences wrought by an event;

Piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor;

Wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed;

Create by training and teaching;

Undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession;

Train by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control;

Prepare (someone) for a future role or function;

Train to be discriminative in taste or judgment;

Aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment;

Teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports;

Exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition;

Train to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it;

Travel by rail or train;

Drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground;

Trains are classified based on their use, such as commuter, freight, or high-speed trains.

A train's primary function is to transport passengers or cargo along rail tracks.

A locomotive powers the train, pulling or pushing the carriages along the track.

No, locomotives generally do not carry passengers; they are designed to provide power.

Electric locomotives are more energy-efficient and often have lower emissions than diesel ones.

Locomotives provide the necessary power for trains to move, especially in non-electrified rail systems.

The main types are steam, diesel, and electric locomotives.

A metro is a type of train specifically designed for urban public transportation, often without a separate locomotive.

Some train systems, like subways or certain trams, do not require separate locomotives as each car is motorized.

A high-speed train is designed to operate significantly faster than traditional trains, often on dedicated tracks.

A steam locomotive operates by burning fuel, usually coal, to heat water in a boiler, creating steam that drives the engine.

A freight train is a type of train that carries goods instead of passengers.

Train transport is often more environmentally friendly and can be more efficient for mass transit and bulk cargo.

While primarily designed to pull trains, locomotives sometimes perform yard tasks like shunting.

No, trains can be powered by diesel, electricity, or even steam, depending on the system.