Do frieght trains run on coal anymore these day ?

Question

Do frieght trains run on coal anymore these day ?

Answer 1

they do in china

Answer 2

no they run on diesal engines now

Answer 3

China discontinued its last steam revenue service about 2002.  Diesel fuel is more expensive than coal, but when all factors are considered (maintenance cost, materials cost, crew requirements, etc.), diesel locomotives are still far more economical.

Answer 4

Only in one or two places like China and Cuba.

Answer 5

Most EM1 train engines run on desiel today. But they still haul a lot of coal to Power companys, who still use coal to produce electricity

Answer 6

Maybe in 3rd World countries but not in the USA... Only Steam Locos we have are for museums and tourists...

Answer 7

Yes, because coal is still the cheapest nonrenewable resource in the world. Diesel is coming in a costly $107 a barrel while coal is still $75 for the same amount of energy. Which one would you choose if you were an owner of a big train company?

Answer 8

No they don't. The old coal fired steam engines were extremely powerful machines. And it might take two or more diesel engines to pull the same long train as one steam engine. But the steam engines were not efficient users of energy. They also required many hours of maintenance. A steam engine could require as much as one hour of maintenance for every 10 hours in use. Plus they had to stop often for coal and/or water.

A Diesel engine needs only a few hours of maintenance every six months. An Engineer can park a Diesel, and walk away from it for any length of time. There's no fire to keep watch on. There are no massive external rotating parts to keep lubed. So it is by far cheaper to use two or more Diesel engines to replace that one steam engine.

Answer 9

South America,China,and Africa and possibly India still had some steam engines in regular service last time i heard

Answer 10

Freight trains are primarily diesel-electric locomotives, meaning a diesel engine in the locomotive turns an alternator which in turn powers electric motors at the wheels.

Answer 11

they have some trains around here that run on coal you can take for a short excursion, but as far as actual freight trains most are diesel engines now.