European Railroad Discussion > World's longest passenger train...

Rhätische Bahn:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369043/Pictured-Worlds-longest-passenger-train-winds-Swiss-alps.html

More coverage here:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-record-train-switzerland/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3A0LFF52VlTgAwOfTF5L5Ffl_f8nM1ihWJ_xF-C9pwxk4tzER3NomIW3E

About the size of a normal Canada or U.S. freight with a crew of two people, an engineer and conductor, but the Swiss used 7 "drivers" and 21 technicians to run this passenger train.  Why do Europeans call engieers "drivers" no one steers a train?

DGOLDE Wrote:
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> About the size of a normal Canada or U.S. freight
> with a crew of two people, an engineer and
> conductor, but the Swiss used 7 "drivers" and 21
> technicians to run this passenger train.  Why do
> Europeans call engieers "drivers" no one steers a
> train?

They probably used 7 drivers because the MU system couldn't reach the entire length of the train. Too much voltage loss due to the length.

DGOLDE Wrote:
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> Why do Europeans call engieers "drivers" no one steers a
> train?

Driver is an English term, Méchanicien is the word in French, in German it's the rather scary sounding Zug (or Lok) führer.

Incidentally if driver is a strange term how much engineering do North American engineers do?

Nah, the world's longest train is Snow Piercer.

Posted from Android

86235 Wrote:
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> DGOLDE Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why do Europeans call engieers "drivers" no one
> steers a
> > train?
>
> Driver is an English term, Méchanicien is the
> word in French, in German it's the rather scary
> sounding Zug (or Lok) führer.
>
> Incidentally if driver is a strange term how much
> engineering do North American engineers do?

A lot of engineering actually. An "engineer," in this case, is one who operates an engine.

SpringedSwitch Wrote:
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> A lot of engineering actually. An "engineer," in
> this case, is one who operates an engine.

But not the same a professional engineer with an engineering degree and certification.