In this segment from The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation, Mo Rocca meets with curator of transportation Matt Anderson to learn more about the rise of the dieselelectric locomotive.

By the mid1920s the design and development of steam locomotives had become rigorous and scientific. The dominance of steam, however, was being challenged. Could the internal combustion engine with its higher efficiency, ease of operation, and reliance on cheap fuel become an alternative power source for railroad operations? Smoke abatement rulings in Chicago and New York City provided a further incentive for researching alternatives to steam power.

The dieselelectric locomotive offered many advantages over its steampowered counterpart. It needed less maintenance, used less fuel and could be operated with a smaller crew. It also didn't require expensive support structures like roundhouses, coaling towers, and water tanks.

After World War II, the "dieselization" of American railroads was rapid. The period from about 1945 to 1960 is often called the "Transition Era" on American railroads. Newlypurchased dieselelectric locomotives worked alongside veteran steamers as railroad companies replaced their fleets. In 1945, dieselelectrics hauled just seven percent of the nation’s freight trains. Of the 21,000 new locomotives bought between 1945 and 1955, fully 95 percent were dieselelectric.

Check out our curated expert set to learn more about dieselelectric locomotives https://www.thehenryford.org/collecti...

Related video: How to Operate a Steam Locomotive    • How to Operate a Steam Locomotive  

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