Diesel?Coal?I mean modern trains, like freight and passenger ones.Thanks!
It depends on the type of engine: mostly turistic trains with a steaqm engine: coal Lines with overhead electricity lines: electricity other lines: diesel fuel In Sweden they rebuild Diesel railcars to use gas During WW2, due to the coal shortage in Switzerland, they reconstracted a few small switcher engines (coal) to an electric heating of the boiler. so you could see a steam engine using the overhead electric lines.
Both actually, diesel fuel mostly but not entirely, here's why: All modern trains are actually electric and the diesel engine just runs a great big generator to power the electric motors. However some trains are electric and have no diesel engine at all, they get their electricity from overhead power lines. So, seeing as how more than half of all electricity in the U.S. is generated by coal, one would have to say that coal does indeed still power some of our trains and will for years to come, it is done indirectly.
Indeed, diesel is the primary means of fueling the common diesel-electric locomotive most commonly used today. Others include straight electric locomotives that are typically powered using alternating current transmission (AC), although in years past these used to be powered using outdated direct current transmission (DC). Of note, some of the new environmentally friendly models use battery power to cut way down on emissions and only use backup generators when their batteries need recharged.
Most engines run on diesel-electric. Subways,Light rail and Amtrak and a few commuter lines on the North East Corridor are pure eclectic.Conrail used eclectic on this line for a couple years but quit when Amtrak razed electric rates. There are four Natural Gas switchers in LA on BNSF. There are Locomotives called Green Goats that use a small diesel motor to charge battery's and the loco runs off of battery power. The US Army is testing Fuel Cell Hydrogen Powered Engines. There is a Bombardier Turbine Power Locomotive that has been testing in Colorado, This looks like Amtrak Acela Engine.
