Transportation Technology Land Transportation Transportation Technology

When you have completed this chapter, you should be able to do the following: Identify and describe the different vehicles used in land transportation Explain the differences among the various types of roadways Describe the construction of highways, streets, and railroad roadbeds List various ways in which roadways are regulated Speculate about future land transportation systems

Land transportation Land transportation is a big industry Almost everything we use– food, water, clothing, furniture, fuel magazines, books– has been transported by land vehicles. All land transportation vehicles can be identified as either random route vehicles or fixed route vehicles Non-fixed pathway- a pathway in which a vehicle has freedom to move in various directions (Roads/Sidewalks) Fixed Pathway- a pathway that has a fixed route (Railroads/Monorails) Stationary Pathway- a transportation path in which the structure does not move (Pipeline/conveyor)

Terms to be defined Locomotives Fishyback Rolling Stock Look these terms up with your phone, book, or computer. Get a piece of paper and write each terms definition. This will be handed in and graded. Locomotives Fishyback Rolling Stock Interstate Highways Unit Train US Highways Monorail State Highways Tractor-trailer Magnetic Levitation Trains (Maglev) Fifth Wheel Twin-Engine Car Piggyback

Modes of land transportation Highway land transportation- transportation that occurs on roadways and highways Railway land transportation- Movement of people and cargo in vehicles that use rails as guidance Pipeline land transportation- Movement of cargo through stationary pipes On-site land transportation- Transportation of people and cargo short distances within buildings and complexes Recreational land transportation- Transportation for fun, sport or recreation

Land Transportation vehicles Land transportation vehicles are those vehicles that travel on roadways on the ground, below the ground, or elevated above the ground. Land transportation categories include: Trains Mass transit vehicles Buses Trucks Motorcycles

Trains Trains and railroads provided a fast and safe way to travel long before the automobile was invented. Trains consist of locomotives and rolling stock. Locomotives provide the power to pull the trains Rolling stock are the train cars that are pulled by locomotives Railroad tracks Combination of rails and roadbeds Crash Course on Train History

Passenger trains Passenger train: consists of a locomotive and passenger cars. In the US, passenger trains use over 24,000 miles of track. They create very little traffic congestion and are very safe compared to other land transportation vehicles. 1970- the United States Congress enacted the Rail Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). Major disadvantages: They are often not as convenient as automobiles. Trains can only be boarded only at a specific times and only at a passenger terminal. You must travel on the train’s schedule You must find other means of transportation to and form the terminal Other countries such as Japan, have bullet trains Its possible that as highways become more crowded and fuel becomes more expensive, passenger trains will again become popular in the US

Passenger Trains Several types of cars make up a passenger train: Chair Cars Club Cars (refreshment cars) Dinning Cars Sleeping Cars Baggage Cars Mail Cars Car Carrier- makes it possible for individuals to load their cars on the train. This allows people to use their own cars for transportation when they arrive at their destination.

Freight Trains Railroads are the largest carrier of freight in the US. Freight trains use over 200,000 miles of track and serve more than 45,000 towns and cities. They use over 1.7 million freight cars. The most common freight cars are: Boxcars- used to carry products ranging from canned goods to lawnmowers. Some boxcars are designed to be heated or refrigerated so that they can carry products such as tropical flowers or frozen foods. Livestock cars- similar to boxcars but have openings in their sides so that they can safely transport animals such as cattle, sheep, and hogs. Flatcars- basically flat platforms on wheels. They are used to carry large items such as mobile homes, machinery, lumber, and logs. Tank cars- consists of large tanks for transporting liquids, such as oil, or dry powder materials, such a cement. Hopper cars- transport materials such as coal, ore, sand, salt, and grain. Transport cars- carry new cars from manufacturing plants to car dealers throughout the US. Gondolas- low-riding freight cars that have open tops. They are used to transport materials such as iron, stone, and scrap metal.

Freight Trains Common Fright Cars:

Freight trains The Caboose is always the last car of a freight train. It provides housing for the train crew. However, cabooses may not be necessary in the future. This is because computers are being used to help automate the operation of trains. A computer-operated train will not need a human crew; thus a caboose will no longer be needed. Most freight trains use a combination of freight cars. Unit train- made up of only one type of car. A unit train carries the same type of freight to the same location, trip after trip. An example of a unit train is a coal train. The advantage of a unit train is that the cars do not usually have to be uncoupled or rearranged during or between trips.

Locomotives Locomotives supply the power to pull trains. The first train locomotive was developed in England in 1804. It used a wood-fired steam engine for power, Wood-fired steam locomotives were replaced with coal-fired steam locomotives. Coal-fired steam were replaced with the most efficient diesel- electric locomotives and gas-turbine locomotives we use today. Most locomotives are powered by diesel-electric: The diesel engine turns the electric generators to produce electricity which is then used to operate electric motors that are mounted on the axles of the locomotive Some locomotives can develop over 6,000 horsepower and can pull as many as 200 carts. In some cases, 2 or more locomotives are used together to pull a long train. In these cases, there will an A locomotive and a B locomotive A locomotive has a cab for the engineer B locomotive is for extra power, with no cab

Mass Transit rail vehicles Mass transit rail vehicles are generally used to transport people to and from the suburbs and the inner city or around large facilities such as airports. Different types that may be located on-ground, under-ground, or above ground. Ex: the streetcars in San Francisco are a type of on-ground rail system. The rails for the street cars built into the cities streets so as not to interfere with automobile traffic.

Subways Subways, found in many large cities, are examples of underground-rail systems. These systems operate in tunnels built below the city. These systems are very expensive to build, but they do not interfere with automobile traffic on the city’s streets. How Subways Work

Chicago “L” The Chicago “L” is an example of an above-ground rail transit system. An Above-ground system is built above the city streets. In this way, they too avoid interference with automobile traffic below. An above-ground rail system is often called an el, which is short for elevated.