How many miles per gallon does a diesel train get?
Thanks in part to these technologies, today U.S. freight railroads can, on average, move one ton of freight nearly 500 miles per gallon of fuel, making rail an environmentally friendly way to move freight over land.
How much diesel does a train use per hour?
As the table in Figure 5 demonstrates, fuel consumption for conventional locomotives can vary from a low of around 3 gallon per hour (gph) while idling, up to a high range of 188 gph while at maximum notch. The most common switch engines for use in intermodal yards would be similar to the GP 9 or GP 38 locomotives.
How efficient are diesel electric trains?
Though trains are more efficient than trucks, not all trains are equally efficient. Diesel-powered trains transfer about 30-35 percent of the energy generated by combustion to the wheels, while supplying electricity directly from an overhead powerline transfers about 95 percent of the energy to the wheels.
How much fuel does a train use idling?
Using an average of 3.5 gallons of fuel burned per hour idling per locomotive – some easy math shows an annual consumption of over 20 million gallons of excess idle, which is over 4% of the total annual fuel consumption for that particular Class I railroad – do we have your attention yet?
How many miles to the gallon does a freight train get?
Fuel Efficiency – CSX.com. According to the AAR, moving freight by rail is 4 times more fuel efficient than moving freight on the highway. CSX trains can move a ton of freight approximately 492 miles on a single gallon of fuel.
How big is a fuel tank on a locomotive?
Typically, a locomotive has a fuel capacity of 4,000 gallons of fuel and will be fueled twice per week. Railroads own and manage their own fueling facilities.
Which is better diesel or electric locomotive?
Power plant capacity is far greater than any individual locomotive uses, so electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration.
How fuel-efficient is a diesel locomotive?
The diesel-electric locomotive has a thermal efficiency (percent of useful work derived from a unit of fuel) of 20–25%. Since a gallon of fuel oil contains approximately 130,000 Btu of energy, only 20–25% of this would be available to produce work, that is, pull the train.
How much diesel does an Amtrak train use?
Results of the tests showed that the average fuel consumption for the 157.7 mile trip was 368 gallons and that the average fuel use efficiency was 277 ton-miles per gallon. Fuel consumption and fuel use efficiency were found to increase consistently with increasing train tonnage.
How long does it take to refuel a locomotive?
Loading of coal and water and incidental maintenance takes a steam locomotive about 1 hour. A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump in 10 minutes or so.
How much fuel does a locomotive use per mile?
The test data were analyzed and compared with results of the TSC Train Performance Simulator replicating the same operations. Results of the tests showed that the average fuel consumption for the 157.7 mile trip was 368 gallons and that the average fuel use efficiency was 277 ton-miles per gallon.
How far can a diesel locomotive go without refueling?
Much depends on the loco type/class/load, I’m sure, since answers range from 7 to 22 hours and 550 to 1650 miles. (Those work out to about . 4 miles per gallon, which is actually a -lot- more than I would have guessed!)
How far can a diesel train go without refueling?
Similarly, a typical train might haul 3,000 tons of freight 500 miles and consume approximately 3,049 gallons of diesel fuel.
What is maximum speed for diesel locomotive?
The locomotives weigh between 100 and 200 tons (91,000 and 181,000 kilograms) and are designed to tow passenger-train cars at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour (200 kph).
What is the top speed of a diesel locomotive?
The InterCity 125, the current confirmed record holder as the fastest diesel-powered train at 148 mph (238 km/h); is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of carriages; capable of 125 mph (201 km/h) in regular service.
How many miles can a train move on a gallon of fuel?
This efficiency might be stated as “a train can move a ton of freight 492 miles on a gallon of fuel.” In this example, the train is approximately 3.7 times more efficient at hauling freight, as shown by the ratio 492 train ton-miles per gallon divided by 134 truck ton-miles per gallon.
How much diesel fuel does a train consume?
Consuming 4,062,025,082 gallons of diesel fuel (including freight trains and trains in switching yards, but excluding passenger trains) The average works out to be 435.88 ton-miles per gallon of fuel. Some rail lines do better.
How many miles on a gallon of fuel does a truck travel?
This efficiency might be stated as “a truck can move a ton of freight 134 miles on a gallon of fuel.”. Similarly, a typical train might haul 3000 tons of freight 500 miles and consume approximately 3185 gallons of diesel fuel.
How do you calculate ton miles per gallon of diesel fuel?
(19 tons x 500 miles) / 71 gallons = 134 ton-miles per gallon. Similarly, a typical train might haul 3000 tons of freight 500 miles and consume approximately 3185 gallons of diesel fuel. The efficiency of this freight haul would be calculated as: (3000 tons x 500 miles) / (3185 gallons) = 471 ton-miles per gallon.