railway locomotive

4.4

A large machine on wheels that pulls a train on tracks

noun
/ˈreɪlweɪ ləˈkoʊmɪtɪv/

: locomotora

The railway locomotive pulled a long line of freight cars to the next station.

Examples

The museum displayed a vintage railway locomotive that was used in the early 20th century.
A modern railway locomotive can travel at speeds over 200 kilometers per hour.
Railway locomotives, which moved through the countryside, were the first big machines to broach people's consciousness.

Blog text (19)

Synonyms

engine

vsrailway locomotive

89 3.5

A vehicle that pulls train cars on railway tracks

is the more specific phrase meaning the same self powered train vehicle

locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

37 4.6

A train engine that pulls rail cars

is the term defined as a self propelled vehicle providing train motive power

steam locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

3 3.2

A train engine that uses steam made by heating water to move

is the general self propelled train vehicle not tied to steam power

iron horse

vsrailway locomotive

Archaic

1 9.9

A steam train engine that pulled cars on rails in the 1800s

is the neutral modern description for the same self propelled train vehicle

diesel locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

Specialized

1 4.1

A railway engine that runs on diesel fuel rather than steam or electricity

is the broader vehicle type not limited to diesel propulsion

tank engine

vsrailway locomotive

Archaic

1 5.0

A steam train that carries its own fuel and water without another car behind it

is the broader vehicle concept without emphasizing onboard storage

electric locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

1 3.9

A train engine that runs on electricity from overhead wires or a third rail

is the general railway vehicle regardless of its electricity use

locomotive engine

vsrailway locomotive

3.6

A machine on train tracks that pulls or pushes trains

is the general description used here rather than a different part of the train

diesel-electric locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

Specialized

5.1

A train engine that uses a diesel engine to make electricity that runs its electric motors

is the general concept regardless of how motive power is produced

tank locomotive

vsrailway locomotive

Archaic

8.0

A steam engine that carries its own fuel and water so it needs no separate car

is the general motive vehicle, not specifically noted for onboard fuel storage

switch engine

vsrailway locomotive

Specialized

6.6

A small vehicle that moves train cars inside a rail yard

is the mainline motive vehicle used along tracks across distances

donkey engine

vsrailway locomotive

Archaic

7.9

A small vehicle that moves rail cars around in a rail yard

is the general train power vehicle used beyond small yard tasks

pilot engine

vsrailway locomotive

Archaic

7.6

A train engine that goes ahead to check the track for obstacles

is the standard motive vehicle that pulls or propels trains rather than scouting ahead

How Powerful

railway locomotive

4.4

shunter

Jargon

9.3

Surface Forms

railway locomotive singular

railway locomotives plural

Morphology

railway + locomotive

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'railway' (pertaining to trains/tracks) with 'locomotive' (a rail vehicle that provides motive power), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand 'railway locomotive'. This simple noun+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns and is not idiomatic or metaphorical, making it clearly compositional.

Etymology

Railway locomotive was named for a simple idea: a machine that moves itself on the rails of a railway. The word locomotive shows it is its own 'engine' that 'moves', so today railway locomotive means the self-powered engine that pulls and drives a train along the tracks.