Talk:Geared steam locomotive

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Confusion

"European engineers preferred cogs to adhesion when force is an issue, possibly because the locomotives can be much lighter. Cog locomotives can also employ down-gearing." This statement is misleadingly naive.

I think the writer is trying to say that you can not start or pull a heavy load if the wheels slip. Sand is often applied to reduce slip when starting, sometimes a heavier locomotive can be used. In critical applications (gradients between, say 1 in 6 and around 1 in 25) a rack railway system can be used (what the writer calls 'cogs'). Whether or not the locomotive is geared is a separate matter although gearing is usually needed on rack locomotives.:These considerations should not be confused 'geared locomotives' and 'rack railways' each deserve a separate article. 82.38.97.206 09:49, 19 December 2005 (UTC)mikeL