The 3 Main Industries for Freight Trains

[BakerFan1001]

Coal which 43% in 2012 relied on this power source energy for the main electric producer. There are pretty much NO excuses or reasons why coal shouldn't be on a train. Semi-trucks do transport coal faster... but the coal trains carry more and more coal than any other transport for the coal industry. I have no idea why the US Government wants to demolish the coal industry and switch to time wasting and money wasting alternative energy sources like solar power, hydroelectric, or wind power which do not generate enough MW (mega watts) to cherish the U.S.A. Coal, natural gas, and the nuclear power industries are my main focuses for the most efficient energy and cost less to produce everyday. Freight trains have changed how America transports coal & natural gas and nuclear power to their power plants. It's amazing because trucks could not get that much from a truck, it is simple that these 3 main programs are the most important items that freight trains need to transport 100% of the time. Trucks are very well at gravel, concrete, and foods for the families and single persons' in the United States, but my focuses would be on coal, natural gas, and nuclear transport for trains. See! If politicians would be more smarter... they would invest in more oil, coal, gas, and even more nuclear and have better programs for the pre-workers so they cannot mess up one of the plants and have more safer outfits when in mines and power plants! This is a long paragraph, but it's worth reading, and comment on any positive things on this main idea! Thanks!!!

 

[RCH]

Interesting points, Caleb. If I had to pick three, I think the energy, agriculture and chemical industries are probably nearest the top, though I can see the energy sector dwindling over time as less coal is used and more oil and natural gas is transported by pipeline. Perhaps then intermodal transport of consumer goods would account for one of the top three industries.

I'm going to agree with you on your point about trucks being efficient to transport gravel and concrete, but only from a local distribution point. Rail is far more efficient to transport these commodities, especially heavy bulk items like cement and gravel, between the originating point - such as a cement kiln or quarry - and a local distributor or a batch plant. It's up to trucks to take these products the last few miles to the end user. Not only that, but if you account for the labor savings in moving a given amount of freight via rail vs. truck, the savings is staggering when using rail.

As far as the change away from coal generated electricity is concerned, this is driven by two different forces. First, the abundance of cheap natural gas has hastened the conversion of some older coal fired plants and the new construction of gas fired plants which has cut deeply into coal volumes. Second, climate change has gotten more and more attention over time and sources of energy that pollute most are targeted first for reduction. Since coal is one of the worst polluting fuels, it is high on the list of energy sources to reduce.

I'm going to disagree with you that the alternative energy sources you list are either a waste of time or money. Rail benefits from transporting the materials to build the physical plant that supports all these forms of energy, including the transmission lines that get the power from the generating source. Perhaps as these sources are developed further, we may see a change from diesel powered trains to electric.

 

[BakerFan1001]

To RCH

I disagree with you also RCH. Alternative sources are actually a true waste of money and if we used windmills just to power all of the U.S. it would fail big time. Wind power is 100% useless because you need wind and they also don't produce a lot of Mega Watts and another reason is that solar power is the same way, you have to have the Sun to power a home or the world. Your opinion and my opinion are just okay, but my opinion needs to be expressed

 

[BakerFan1001]

Another thing is Diesel takes less electricity and is efficient for more lbs. the trains would be hauling. It would take so much electric to have all those 1ton freight cars to be hauled by. So... Diesel or a new generation steam locomotive does better automatically, that's why EMD and GE Rail don't build a lot of electric freight trains, just for passengers only.