How much fuel does a locomotive burn 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 many miles per gallon does a locomotive get?
Thanks in part to these technologies, today U.S. freight railroads can, on average, move one ton of freight more than 480 miles per gallon of fuel, making rail an environmentally friendly way to move freight over land.
How efficient is a diesel locomotive?
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 big are the fuel tanks on a diesel locomotive?
A diesel locomotive has to carry its own fuel around with it and there has to be enough for a reasonable length of trip. The fuel tank is normally under the loco frame and will have a capacity of say 1,000 imperial gallons (UK Class 59, 3,000 hp) or 5,000 US gallons in a General Electric AC4400CW 4,400 hp locomotive.
How long does it take to start a diesel locomotive?
Depending on the size and construction of the engine, it can take 10 to 20 minutes just to start it. A train’s diesel engine is a large unit, with around 16 cylinders.
How much fuel is needed to start a train?
Much depends on the size of the composition, because it varies according to the weight of cargo being added to the total weight of the composition (train) and the type of engine power and speed and he travels and the type of slope of the rail line can reach 50 liters of diesel per kilometer, or hours worked, because …
What is the fuel consumption of a locomotive?
A typical ALCo locomotive WDM3D consumes about 3 litres of diesel at startup and for idle mode (just running at lowest possible RPM without any load) it consumes 27 liters of diesel per hour.
What does fuel do modern locomotives use?
These locomotives are fuelled by burning combustible material-usually coal, wood, or oil -to produce steam in a boiler. The steam moves reciprocating pistons which are mechanically connected to the locomotive’s main wheels (drivers).
How much fuel does a train burn?
Similarly, a typical train might haul 3,000 tons of freight 500 miles and consume approximately 3,049 gallons of diesel fuel. The efficiency of this freight haul would be calculated as: (3000 tons x 500 miles) / (3,049 gallons) = 492 ton-miles per gallon.
What is a diesel locomotive?
A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotive have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels. Early internal combusition locomotives and railcars used kerosene and gasoline as their fuel.