Talk:Electric train

Stupid definition

This is a stupid definition. Almost all rail locomotives use electric motors for propulsion. But there is a huge distinction between those which use electricity from some external sources ( overhead wiring, third rails etc ), and those which generate their own electricity onboard the locomotive using a (usually) diesel-powered generator.Eregli bob (talk) 08:36, 13 July 2011 (UTC)

I have converted it to disambig. Biscuittin (talk) 19:10, 11 October 2013 (UTC)

If the definition is really for trains "powered" by electricity, then all types of trains that is driven by electric traction motors should be included. Those include diesel-electric locomotives, diesel electric multiple units, and gas turbine-electric locomotives. If those on-board fossil fuel source types of trains with electric traction motors are not to be considered as so called "electric trains", then the definition should be changed to something like "powered by external electricity sources fed into the trains, or by on-board batteries". Also, what about battery locomotives? Z22 (talk) 22:14, 11 October 2013 (UTC)

Shouldn't really be a disambiguation page as the useage on many pages is not linked to specific types of train but can legitimately refer to all three definitions. Needs to be a short article outlining the different useages with links to the individual articles. Murgatroyd49 (talk) 13:37, 7 November 2013 (UTC)

Electric trains operate either from an external electric supply, or from batteries; they do not carry their own power plant (diesel or otherwise) around with them, thus the term "electric train" excludes diesel-electric locomotives. --Redrose64 (talk) 16:32, 7 November 2013 (UTC)