Water turbine took about one hundred years. Development occurred during the Industrial revolution, using scientific principles and methods. They also made extensive use of new materials and manufacturing methods developed at the time. The word turbine was introduced by the French engineer Claude Burdin in the early 19th century and is derived from the Greek word "τύρβη" for "whirling" or a "vortex". The main difference between early water turbines and water wheels is a swirl component of the water which passes energy to a spinning rotor. This additional component of motion allowed the turbine to be smaller than a water wheel of
Gas turbine locomotive of the Advanced Passenger Train, was turbine-powered. Like the French TGV, later models were electric. This choice was made because British Leyland, the turbine supplier, ceased production of the model used in the APT-E. ALCO-GE built a prototype oil-fired gas turbine-electric locomotive in 1948. After demonstration runs it was acquired by Union Pacific, who were seeking a more powerful alternative to diesel for transcontinental trains. Union Pacific ran a large fleet of turbine-powered freight locomotives starting in the early 1950s. These were widely used on long-haul routes, and were cost-effective despite their poor fuel economy, due to their use of