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What are most trains made out of?

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Trainguy12345

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I mean that by what is the most common metal used for the main body’s? I know aluminium but why do they use aluminium? And steel for example.
 
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Towers

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Currently it seems to be chocolate, if the spate of newbuilds falling to bits is anything to go by!
 

Towers

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And the tables are, as we know, secured in place with chewing gum stuck to the underside!
 

30907

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To attempt a factual non-scientific answer:
aluminium allows lighter weight construction and the use of extrusions (basically squashing the stuff into specific shapes) but doesn't withstand stresses as well as steel which is heavier and more robust.
It has been used for coach bodies since the 1940s in Switzerland - and on and off here depending on how much weight saving was wanted!

While googling to make sure I wasn't talking total rubbish, I found:
https://www.montanstahl.com/blog/hot-extruded-profiles/
 
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100andthirty

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In general, passenger train bodies are, these days, made from aluminium with some steel parts. Bogies are always made from steel although there are experiments going on with a bogie frame made from carbon fibre. Wheels and axles are always steel.
Locomotives are almost always made from steel. Light weight is not so important. A 4 axle loco usually weighs circa 80t
Freight wagons are usually made from steel in order to be as cheap as possible.
 

43096

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Locomotives are almost always made from steel. Light weight is not so important.
Umm, weight is important with locomotives. The heavier a locomotive is influences axle load and consequently track access costs.
 

37201xoIM

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Umm, weight is important with locomotives. The heavier a locomotive is influences axle load and consequently track access costs.
Though weight also influences adhesion and therefore maximum tractive effort available before slipping ensues - hence the common practice of ballasting locos, especially for freight work.
 

Ken H

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Must be a fair bit of GRP. Think HST cabs were clad in GRP
 
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