Types of most used railroad vehicles

In Brazil and in the world there are a series of transport vehicles, which are used both for passengers and for cargo. Rail vehicles, for example, are widely used nationally for both functions.

Rail transport requires a series of processes, such as weighing, maneuvering, loading and unloading, among others. For this, the train, which is the vehicle used on the railroads, needs to be composed of a series of structures that allow this work to be carried out in the best possible way.

Here we will see how railroad vehicles, in this case trains, are composed and what is the role of each structure in this composition. 

Locomotives

Many people hear about a locomotive and believe that it is a specific transport vehicle. However, the locomotive is one of the parts of the composition of railroad trains, and plays a fundamental role in the functioning of railroad vehicles.

Generally speaking, locomotives are railroad vehicles that have the role of providing energy for the rest of the train or train. It is the first “wagon” of this composition, being in charge of pulling the rest of the vehicle's structure, allowing them to move.

The type of energy used by the locomotive depends on the construction of the rest of the vehicle and the needs of each railroad. This energy has been significantly modified over time, increasingly aiming to increase speed, safety and reduce the waste of important resources for the environment.

The first locomotives, for example, were powered by steam power and remained that way for a long time. Afterwards, the locomotives started to receive new energy sources, such as:

• Diesel-mechanic;
• Diesel-electric;
• Diesel-hydraulic;
• Diesel-hydrostatic;
• Electric gas turbine;
• Electricity;
• Magnetic Levitation.

Shunting Locomotive

In addition to the specific compositions that make up a train, it is also important to highlight the most relevant components of the railroads, which are, for example, trains, rails, sleepers, among others. 

Furthermore, the system that enables the railroads to function, allowing trains to move on the tracks, be loaded and unloaded, have their heavy loads and are parked when necessary, is formed by railroads, stations, yards, among other spaces and equipment .

Rail yards, for example, play an important role. It can have different functions, such as parking, loading loads, among others. However, its main function is to carry out maneuvers within a railroad, allowing trains to change the direction of travel if necessary.

For this work to be carried out well, the wagons must be coupled to a specific locomotive. This locomotive is called a shunting locomotive, which is one of the main rail vehicles in the system.

Passenger Operations Vehicles 

Speaking specifically of the railroad operations vehicles, which are trains, we have two main examples of vehicles: those for passenger operations and those for cargo operations.

Firstly, it is worth mentioning passenger trains, which are also known as passenger cars or carriages. 

In Brazil, these rail vehicles are mainly used for transport in some capitals of the country, through the subway system, such as in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, on intercity train lines, and there are also some long-distance journeys, such as the one executed on the Vitória-Minas Railroad.

The composition of the vehicle differs between passenger and freight trains essentially by wagons.  

The railroad passenger train car is called a railroad car, and it has a structure built so that passengers remain inside the cars during the journey in a safe way, with seats, roof, support structures, electricity, among other important points.

In order for rail cars vehicles able to move, they need to be connected to each other to the locomotive, through traction. In this way, they are arrested, reducing the chance of accidents during passengers' journeys and enabling a smooth and pleasant journey for those who choose this type of transport.

Rail vehicles for cargo operations

Naturally, there are certain structures that are similar in all train models, such as the locomotive, which remains primarily responsible for providing enough energy for the rest of the train.

However, freight operations rail vehicles have wide variations in types and models, especially wagons. The activity of transporting goods by railroads requires that each of the railroad vehicles be built to adapt to the type of cargo that will be transported.

Furthermore, the way in which vehicles are loaded and unloaded also varies greatly depending on the type of goods that are or will be transported.

In this way, the railroad vehicles that will transport the goods, whether to Brazilian municipalities or to export ports, can have wagons of different types, adapting to the needs. Meet the main ones:

• Platform or Board;
• Closed;
• Hopper;
• Gondola;
• Fridge;
• Tank;
• Cage.

Depending on the type of wagon that is used, the loads are safely positioned in order to avoid important waste for the companies involved. These loads need to be weighed on railroad scales during the process, identifying whether the values are suitable for the way the train is traveling.

In Brazil, the use of rail vehicles, especially for cargo transport, is still very precarious. The preference for highways took over investments in recent decades, making it difficult to develop new types of vehicles that could provide even faster and more efficient journeys.

Thus, at the present time, the main solution for vehicles to keep being used properly, ensuring that the loads are transported safely, is to choose the right wagons for each type of merchandise.

Conclusion: rail vehicles

As we have seen, railroad vehicles are formed by two main structures: locomotives, responsible for providing energy for the rest of the train, and wagons, which are the spaces where cargo or people are transported. The way in which wagons are built differs depending on the type of activity carried out and the type of cargo that will be transported, qualifying the entire travel process, providing safe, fast and consolidated routes.

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