A diesel locomotive has how many horsepower? The diesel engine of a locomotive is coupled to a DC or AC electric generator. In each case, roughly 3,200 horsepower is generated. This energy is converted into a large amount of current, around 4,700 amperes, by the generator.
How much horsepower does the average locomotive have?
“Most electric locomotives weigh between 100 and 200 short tons (90 and 180 metric tons) and have a horsepower range of 6000 to 7000 (4500 to 5200 kilowatts).”
How much horsepower does a train engine have?
A freight locomotive engine produces between 4,000 and 18,000 horsepower on average.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the modern freight locomotives and see what they have to offer.
It’s a locomotive made by General Electric Transportation that’s primarily used to draw freight cars. It’s widely utilized by CSX Transportation, BNSF Railway, and a few other railroads.
With a 12-cylinder 1010 engine, this diesel-electric locomotive produces 4,400 horsepower.
It’s a hybrid locomotive with a 16-cylinder 710 engine that produces 4,300 horsepower.
How many miles per gallon does a diesel locomotive get?
The formula for our 2018 fuel economy rating is as follows: (Source: CSX R-1 Report 2018)
- Lines 1+3 (Line 4) of Schedule 750, Diesel Fuel Consumption (Freight + Switching) = 423,998,863 gallons
Over the previous decade, CSX has spent more than $2.8 billion on improving locomotive fuel efficiency and lowering emissions.
The ton-mile-per-gallon is a unit of measurement used to compare the effectiveness of various types of transportation while moving freight.
The rail business keeps track of revenue ton-miles and publishes them “Surface Transportation Board Annual Report” (commonly referred to as the R1 Report). ‘The’ “The annual value of “Ton-Miles of Freight” is recorded in Schedule 755, line 110 of the R1 Report. In the R1 Report, Schedule 750, line 4, the rail sector also tracks and reports annual fuel usage. The system-wide train efficiency value is calculated using these two stated values.
For example, CSX recorded 208,712,027,000 ton-miles of freight in the R1 Report in 2018, and the combined line haul and switcher reported fuel usage was 423,998,863 gallons.
In other words, based on our 2018 revenue ton miles and fuel use, CSX trains can move a ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a gallon of fuel.
A freight truck’s fuel economy can be calculated in a similar method. For example, assuming an average 7 miles per gallon truck fuel efficiency and a typical truck payload of 19 tons, a heavy-duty diesel truck moving 19 tons of freight over 500 miles would burn approximately 71 gallons of diesel fuel. This freight haul’s efficiency would be computed as follows:
This efficiency could be described as follows: “On a gallon of gas, a truck can transport a ton of freight 134 miles.”
Similarly, a normal train might transport 3,000 tons of freight for 500 miles while using 3,049 gallons of diesel fuel. This freight haul’s efficiency would be computed as follows:
This efficiency could be described as follows: “On a gallon of fuel, a train can transport a ton of freight 492 miles.”
As illustrated by the ratio of 492 train ton-miles per gallon split by 134 truck ton-miles per gallon in this example, the train is nearly 3.7 times more efficient at moving freight.
Why train engines are not turned off?
Because trains are so enormous and heavy, they require the highest possible brake line pressure to stop safely. Loco pilots never compromise on brake line pressure for obvious reasons. Another incentive to keep diesel train engines running is the engine itself. The diesel engine in a train is a huge machine with roughly 16 cylinders.
What is the cost of a diesel locomotive?
Locomotives are massive machines that are incredibly strong and dependable. They come with a variety of features as well as electronic safety systems. However, the greater the price point, the more equipment there is.
So, what does a locomotive cost? A diesel locomotive can cost anywhere between $500,000 and $2 million. An electric locomotive, on the other hand, could cost more than $6 million. The cost varies depending on whether it uses AC or DC traction, how much horsepower it has, and what electronics it contains.
What is the top speed of a diesel locomotive?
With an engine speed range of 500 to 6,000 rpm, most cars with a five- or six-speed transmission can drive 110 mph (177 kph) or quicker. Our diesel locomotive’s engine has a much limited speed range. It has a top speed of only 904 rpm and an idle speed of roughly 269 rpm. A locomotive with this speed range would require 20 or 30 gears to reach 110 mph (177 kph).
A gearbox like this would be massive, complicated, and wasteful (it would have to manage 3,200 horsepower). It would also have to deliver electricity to four separate sets of wheels, adding to the complexity.
The main diesel engine can run at a constant speed while turning an electrical generator in a hybrid configuration. The generator provides electrical power to each axle’s traction motor, which drives the wheels. Without changing gears, the traction motors can create enough torque at any speed, from a complete stop to 110 mph (177 kph).
Why Diesel?
Engines that run on diesel are more efficient than those that run on gasoline. When towing around five passenger cars, a locomotive like this uses an average of 1.5 gallons of fuel every mile (352 L per 100 km). Locomotives towing hundreds of fully loaded freight trains consume far more gasoline, so even a 5% or 10% reduction in efficiency would rapidly add up to a large increase in fuel expenditures.
What is the newest diesel locomotive?
Amtrak passengers will soon be able to travel on a brand-new locomotive capable of speeds of up to 125 miles per hour: Meet the Siemens ALC-42 Chargers.
- The Siemens ALC-42 Chargers can reach high speeds of 125 mph while using less diesel.
