Wikipedia
In rail transport, the expression power car may refer to either of two distinct types of rail vehicle:
- a vehicle that propels, and commonly also controls, a passenger train or tram, often as the lead vehicle;
- a vehicle equipped with machinery for supplying heat or electrical power to other parts of a train.
The first of these types of vehicle is closely related to the locomotive. What differentiates the locomotive and the first type of power car is their construction or use. A locomotive can be physically separated from its train and does nothing but provide propulsion and control (and heat or electricity for passenger trains). On the other hand, a power car of the first type is frequently an integral part of its train, and some of its interior space may be used for carrying passengers or cargo.
Usage examples of "power car".
This is a fourteen horse power car, the garage is about ten feet by ten, shut up with the car running the air would be deadly in twenty minutes.
At L--, however, their object became plain, for a high-power car was awaiting us, and into this we hurried and ere the greater number of passengers had reached the platform were being driven off at headlong speed along the moon-bathed roads.
Another exhibit, a full-sized walkthrough mock-up composed of three sections of a wagon-train: the command module, power car and a typical battle-station, attracted a steady flow of visitors.