Ameer Randolph
Trains have played a significant role in shaping the modern world by facilitating the movement of people and revolutionizing trade and transportation. The evolution of trains has been marked by the utilization of various fuels for train engines and locomotives, with steam locomotives of the 19th century giving way to diesel and electric trains that dominate modern railways. While trains historically used coal as their primary fuel source, its usage has significantly declined over the years, with most modern trains shifting to diesel or electricity. This shift has led to improvements in fuel efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions, making electric trains a more environmentally friendly option. However, the generation of electricity for electric trains has predominantly relied on burning fossil fuels or coal, which produces a large amount of carbon emissions. The emergence of 'clean energy' generation and the development of electric-diesel hybrid trains offer potential solutions for reducing the environmental impact of rail transportation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Historical fuel source | Coal |
| Current fuel sources | Diesel, electricity |
| Current fuel source for coal trains | Diesel |
| Performance | Oil-powered trains may have a different performance to coal-powered trains |
| Environmental impact | Diesel trains have a high environmental impact; electric trains have a low environmental impact |
| Hybrid trains | Use battery power when idling and at low speeds, and a diesel engine at higher speeds |
| Hydrogen-powered trains | Emit only water as a by-product of combustion, with zero direct greenhouse gas emissions |
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What You'll Learn
Steam locomotives can burn various combustible materials
Steam locomotives are fuelled by burning combustible material, usually coal, oil, or wood. However, they can burn various combustible materials, depending on what is economically available to the railway. In the UK and other parts of Europe, plentiful supplies of coal made this the obvious choice from the earliest days of the steam engine. In the 1930s to 1950s, it was common for oil-fired locomotives to burn heavy fuel oil, but these days, grades of fuel more like diesel fuel are more readily available.
Steam locomotives were built to burn just about any combustible material, depending on the circumstances. For example, some locomotives burned crop waste on sugar plantations, or turf in Ireland. Even within "coal" burning locomotives, there is a wide variety of types of coal with different combustion characteristics, and the performance of a locomotive designed to run on one type of coal can be quite different if fuelled with another variety.
The performance of a locomotive on these two types of fuel will be different. This might be due to the fireman setting the rate of fuel flow differently, or issues related to airflow rates and hot gas temperatures, which could potentially cause mechanical issues with the boiler and firebox lifetime. Burning with a lighter oil fuel is likely to result in a smaller, more concentrated combustion, while burning with a heavier fuel oil or with coal is likely to result in a physically larger combustion zone, with the heat less concentrated in one location. The resulting hot spots from light oil firing can lead to thermal stresses, fatigue due to heating and cooling cycles, or oxidation damage to materials, in ways that are more severe than with coal or heavy oil firing.
There is also going to be a difference in performance between a hand-fired coal-burning locomotive and one that used a mechanical stoker system to feed the fire. In general, a skilled fireman hand-firing a locomotive could get better performance for a given fuel consumption, as he could manage the fire more flexibly and get decent combustion across the fire. However, there is a limit to how much coal a human can shovel, so it was not viable to hand-fire larger locomotives.
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Oil-burning trains maintain consistent power
Steam engines in trains operate by heating water to produce steam, which generates mechanical power. While trains historically used coal as fuel, the use of coal as a primary fuel source for trains has significantly declined over the years. Most modern trains now rely on diesel or electricity.
Additionally, a skilled fireman managing a fire by hand could achieve better performance for a given fuel consumption, as they could control the fire more flexibly. However, there is a limit to how much coal a human can shovel, so it is not viable for larger locomotives. Oil firing is much easier to control and can be managed with a mechanical stoker system.
The sustained power output of a steam locomotive is generally limited by the rate at which the boiler can produce steam. This rate depends on factors such as the heating surface area and the rate at which fuel can be burned in the firebox. Oil-burning trains can maintain consistent power by burning more fuel to compensate for the lower caloric yield of oil compared to coal. This may result in a smaller, more concentrated combustion zone, which can lead to thermal stresses and oxidation damage over time.
While coal creates more heat and has a higher heat value, oil-burning trains can still achieve similar or higher power output by burning heavier fuel oils. This is because the firebox's capacity limits the amount of coal that can be burned, whereas oil can be pumped and burned continuously.
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Diesel trains are common in areas without electrified tracks
Trains are mainly powered by either diesel fuel or electricity. While trains historically used to run on coal, the use of coal as a primary fuel source for trains has significantly declined over the years. Most modern trains have shifted away from coal and now primarily rely on other types of fuel, such as diesel or electricity.
Diesel fuel is commonly used in various types of trains, especially those that operate in areas without access to electrified tracks or where the infrastructure for electric trains is limited. For instance, Amtrak, the U.S.'s primary commuter rail network, is replacing 40% of its trains by 2031 with a newer fleet of dual-power trains that can run on diesel and electricity. They are also adding some diesel-only locomotives for areas of the country with non-electrified rails. Diesel trains can run on any track without electricity or with any kind of electricity, whereas electric trains can never run on non-electrified lines.
Electric trains are generally considered the most efficient train fuel type in terms of energy conversion and environmental impact. They offer better energy efficiency, lower emissions, and lower operating costs than diesel trains. However, electric trains require their own specialized infrastructure to operate, and there are additional maintenance costs associated with the electrical equipment around the track.
In some cases, diesel-electric trains can be a solution. These trains have been around for about 100 years and can run on both diesel and electric power, allowing for flexibility in areas with both electrified and non-electrified tracks. However, electro-diesel locomotives are not common because the electrification voltage and current rarely line up with the output of the generator, requiring a large and heavy step-down transformer.
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Electric trains have zero direct carbon emissions
Trains have been pivotal in shaping the modern world, with the evolution of train fuel being a journey spanning centuries. While trains historically used coal as their primary fuel source, most modern trains have shifted away from coal and now primarily rely on diesel or electricity.
The use of electric trains is an important part of carbon reduction strategies. Electric trains emit between 20% and 35% less carbon per passenger mile than diesel trains. This benefit will only improve as the electricity generation industry reduces its carbon output. Electric trains are particularly beneficial for improving air quality in pollution hotspots like city centres and mainline stations.
The development of hybrid trains, which use a combination of diesel and battery power, has further reduced carbon emissions. Hydrogen propulsion is another emerging technology, with hydrogen-powered trains emitting only water as a byproduct of combustion and having zero direct greenhouse gas emissions.
The shift towards electric trains and the development of hybrid and hydrogen-powered alternatives demonstrate the railway industry's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact.
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Hydrogen-powered trains emit only water as a byproduct
Trains have been predominantly powered by fossil fuels, such as diesel, or electricity. However, diesel trains emit harmful exhaust containing diesel particulate matter, which can be easily inhaled and has no safe level of exposure. This has led to the development of hydrogen-powered trains, which offer a cleaner and more sustainable alternative.
The Alstom Coradia iLint™ is the world's first passenger train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which produces electricity to run the train. This train is designed for non-electrified or partially electrified lines up to 1000 km long, enabling clean and sustainable train operation. The hydrogen fuel cell combines hydrogen, stored in tanks on board, with oxygen from the outside air, resulting in electrical power and water as the only byproduct. This process is the inverse of electrolysis, where electricity is used to produce hydrogen.
The hydrogen-powered train emits only water vapour and has zero direct carbon dioxide emissions, making it a truly green mode of transport. The generated heat from the hydrogen fuel cell can even be used for air conditioning. In addition to its environmental benefits, the hydrogen train is also quieter than traditional diesel trains, producing 60% less noise.
The hydrogen-powered train can travel up to 500 miles per day on a single tank of hydrogen, carrying 300 passengers. This impressive range was demonstrated when the Alstom Coradia iLint™ travelled 1,175 km without refuelling its hydrogen tank. Hydrogen-powered trains are particularly well-suited for short stretches of the rail network that have not been electrified, offering a green alternative to diesel trains.
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Frequently asked questions
Trains are mainly powered by either diesel fuel or electricity. Steam engines that burn coal or wood are less common today, with diesel engines having replaced them in the late 1920s as a cleaner, more efficient way of moving people and goods.
While trains historically used coal as their primary fuel source, this has significantly declined over the years. Today, most modern trains have shifted away from coal and now rely on diesel or electricity.
Diesel fuel is more commonly used in trains that operate in areas without electrified tracks or where infrastructure for electric trains is limited. Electric trains have no direct carbon emissions as they are run by internal electric motors, although the generation of electricity used to power these motors often involves burning fossil fuels or coal. Electric trains are considered the most efficient in terms of energy conversion and environmental impact.
