Friction is the final frontier of vehicle/rail interaction!
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A single modern diesel freight locomotive can deliver upwards of 50 tons of forward force (called tractive effort) into the rails, but it’s somehow able to do that through the tiny contact patches between two smooth and rigid surfaces. It’s just slick on slick.

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Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos!

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This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.

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Music by Epidemic Sound: http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Tonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
Source:    • Elexive - Tonic and Energy [Creative ...  
Video by Grady Hillhouse
Edited by Wesley Crump
Produced by Ralph Crewe
Graphics by Nebula Studios