Steven的台鐵列車圖庫 / Steven TRA Train Photo Gallery : 蒸汽機車蒸気機関車 증기 기관차 steam locomotive

鐵路機車在19世紀發明時，是以蒸汽機來推動的。到第二次世界大戰結束時，蒸汽機車仍是最常見的機車。
第一部蒸汽機車是由英國人理查·特里維西克製造[1]，並於1804年2月21日進行第一次上軌測試。之後經過多年的改進，蒸汽機車的經濟效益才足以在商業上的營運使用。喬治·史蒂芬生在1829年製造的火箭號（The Rocket）便是最早在商業成功使用的蒸汽機車之一。
蒸汽機車的速度紀錄是由英國的4-6-2 Mallard所創下。1938年7月3日，倫敦和東北部鐵路A4型4468號蒸汽機車「綠頭鴨號」（LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard）牽引六輛車，在一個稍微下坡路段創下時速126英里（203公里）的紀錄。德國、美國的蒸汽機車亦達到接近的速度。一般認為這是蒸汽機車的速度極限。
蒸汽機車在二十世紀中開始被內燃機車或電力機車所取代。1960年代末，世界上仍然有使用蒸汽機車作商業運作的國家已寥寥無幾。到了二十世紀末，蒸汽機車在北美洲及歐洲基本上已被完全淘汰，只會間中在特別為鐵道迷及遊客安排的路線上行走。墨西哥仍有很少量的蒸汽機車在偏遠的地方運作。印度曾大量使用蒸汽機車，但現在它們只會在空氣稀薄的山區運作。

蒸気機関車（じょうききかんしゃ）とは、蒸気機関によって動く機関車のことである。
日本では Steam Locomotive の頭文字をとって、SL（エスエル）とも呼ばれる。また、蒸気機関車、または蒸気機関車が牽引する列車のことを汽車とも言う[1]。また、明治時代には蒸気船に対して陸の上を蒸気機関で走ることから、「陸蒸気」（おかじょうき）とも呼んでいた。第二次世界大戦の頃までは「汽罐車」（きかんしゃ）という表記も用いられた（「汽罐」はボイラーの意）。

증기 기관차(蒸氣機關車)는 증기 기관에서 구동력을 얻어 움직이는 기관차를 말한다. 근원적인 열원이 무엇이든지 상관 없이, 열원을 활용하는 데 있어 증기가 개입하는 경우는 모두 증기 기관차로 분류한다.

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning combustible material—usually coal, wood, or oil—to produce steam in a boiler. The steam moves reciprocating pistons which are mechanically connected to the locomotive's main wheels (drivers). Both fuel and water supplies are carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in wagons (tenders) pulled behind. The first steam locomotive, made by Richard Trevithick, first operated on 21 February 1804, three years after the road locomotive he made in 1801. The first practical steam locomotive was built in 1812-13 by John Blenkinsop.[1]

Steam locomotives were first developed in Great Britain during the early 19th century and used for railway transport until the middle of the 20th century. From the early 1900s they were gradually superseded by electric and diesel locomotives, with full conversions to electric and diesel power beginning in the late 1930s. The majority of steam locomotives were retired from regular service by the 1980s, though several continue to run on tourist and heritage lines.

Steam locomotive. (2017, May 13). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:43, May 13, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steam_locomotive&oldid=780104523