What kind of fuel does it take to run a train?

Question

What kind of fuel does it take to run a train?

Answer 1

diesel, or electricity from a third rail or overhead power line

old steam trains run on coke or coal

Some french trains ran on gas

Answer 2

Diesel

Answer 3

Every train you are likely to see outside of a few excursion lines run on electricity.

A great many of them have diesel powered onboard generators to provide that electricity, the vast majority have this system.

Most of the rest are powered by lines, either overhead or 3rd rail, so the electricity from these comes from a variety of sources, including hydro, coal, nuclear and wind power,

so you could say that all these sources power some trains.

In addition there have been experimental locomotives through the years, turbine powered, propane powered, and powdered coal running a steam turbine.

None were very successful but they have been tried.

Almost every train you will see in your daily travels will be diesel/electric.

Answer 4

diesel fuel

Answer 5

trains run on electricity. at least NYC transit does.  some trains still run off coal.

Answer 6

Coal is very old

Diesel and electric train are very common nowadays

There are also train which run on Bio-fuels

Answer 7

sum take jet fuel

Answer 8

well usually diesel but in london and other various places in the world run on electricity from overhead power cables.

Answer 9

Steam train: usually coal, but oil or timber may also be used, also lignite or 'brown coal' which is mainly found in Eastern Europe.

Diesel, normally used coupled to a generator which feeds current to electric motors on each axle, although diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic trains also exist. Diesel-hydraulic means that the diesel motor drives the engine through a fluid coupling and diesel-mechanical means that the drive is through a mechanical gear box.

Electric, which means that the power has to be generated somewhere and this may be through a nuclear, coal-fired, gas-fired (gas as in flammable vapour e.g. methane), or hydro-electric.

Very small miniature steam trains may run on methylated spirit or lighter gas, while Hornby's 00 gauge steam train models use an electric element system.

Gas turbine locomotives have also been developed in the UK and US, with better success in the latter.

Answer 10

cole?

Answer 11

Depends on the train.

Nowdays, the majority of trains are either diesel, electric from a battery, or electric drawn from a rail system.  There are a few antique and replica locomotives running the tracks that are powered by coal or even wood, but they are basically novelty show pieces and not "real" trains.

Answer 12

Diesel. The diesel engine in a locomotive is used to drive a generator which in turn powers electric motors that drive the wheels.

Answer 13

coal, diesel and electric these three element from which worlds train runs