Basically the title. Considering that train wheels are made of metals and run on metal tracks, how do they prevent wheelslip or loss of traction especially when starting with heavy loads or when going uphill? I’ve heard of sandboxes which can be used to provide more grip by spraying sand onto the track but I’m not sure if they’re still prevalent.
Thanks!
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Trains are very heavy and that does create a lot of friction but sometimes the weight of the train and the friction it creates isn’t enough. The drive wheels sometimes need help going up steep hill L/mountains or even sometimes getting started out. In these cases the locomotives have a sand mix they can put on the track that increases the friction. If you’re ever stopped by a train you can see the sandbox if they are going slow enough.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(locomotive)
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