I'll bet you're wondering just what makes me tick.
How does a steam locomotive work?
Let me show you...
Behind this steam engine is the tender, which holds the coal and water needed for the engine.
There are two people in the cab of the engine: the engineer and the fireman.
While engineer makes sure everything is running right, the fireman shovels coal into the firebox
in the back of the locomotive.
The smoke from the burning coal goes out the smokestack and the heat from the coal boils
water in a big tank in the engine called the boiler.
Just like a tea kettle.
And what comes out of a tea kettle when it gets hot?
Steam, that's right.
The steam builds up pressure, just like air in a balloon.
That pressure pushes a piston at the front of the engine.
And that piston is connected to number of rods.
These rods are connected to the driving wheels.
The steam pushes the piston, the piston pushes the rods, the rods push the driving wheels
and, what do you know?
The engine moves forward.
Through the night to the early sunrise Travelling along on those railroad ties
Thru the hills and the western skies I see lots and lots of big trains
Through the tunnels by the ocean shore Listen to those diesel engines roar
From Birmingham to Baltimore I see Lots and Lots of Big Trains
Lots and Lots of big trains Big Trains
Coming round the bend and headed down the track
Lots and Lots of big trains Big Trains
Coming round the bend and headed down the track
I love to listen to the sound of that clickety clack
See the sights and hear the sounds By the cities and through the towns
From the morning sunrise til the sun goes down
I see Lots and lots of big trains Day or night rain or shine
Passing by the houses and the railway signs Over the mountains and through the pines
I see Lots and lots of big trains Coming round the bend and headed down the
track Lots and Lots of big trains
Big Trains Coming round the bend and headed down the
track I love to listen to the sound of that clickety
clack Lots and Lots of big trains
Big Trains Coming round the bend and headed down the
track Lots and Lots of big trains
Big Trains Coming round the bend and headed down the
track I love to listen to the sound of that clickety
clack And the smell of the smoke coming out the
stack I'm going to get on board and I'm not coming
back