In steam engine coal is used as fuel. Coal is burnt to run the steam engine. This burning of coal produces the pollution.
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Coal fired steam locomotives do produce a lot of CO2 emissions but also aerosols which has a cooling effect (global dimming), which cancels out some of the warming produced by CO2. Diesel locos probably produce less CO2 but also less aerosols that would cancel out the CO2.
“It was no longer efficient for railroads to use steam locomotives to pull things. Then they start to become more specialized and can only thrive in one or just a few areas pulling heavy things and maybe moving longer distances.”
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are directly related to fuel consumption. According to EPA data, freight railroads account for just 0.5% of total U.S. GHG emissions and just 1.7% of transportation-related GHG emissions. Moving freight by rail instead of truck lowers GHG emissions by up to 75%, on average.
Trains Emit Less CO2 Than Other Transport MethodsRecently developed hydrogen-powered trains are the most eco-friendly trains in the world, emitting nothing except steam as a by-product and creating very little noise.
The old steam engines were usually run well below 40MPH due to problems with maintaining the tracks-- but could go much faster. I seem to recall a 45 mile run before 1900 in which a locomotive pulled a train at better than 65MPH... (Stanley Steamer cars were known to exceed 75MPH). 3.
Black locomotives became common beginning in 1880, after coal burning engines made grime commonplace. Black was chosen because black locomotives didn't show all the dirt and grime that covered the locomotive during normal use.
There are around 200 steam locomotives still operable in the United States in 2022. Preserving those existing steam locomotives has become an important mission for locomotive enthusiasts.
Water TroughsThese troughs allowed train crews to replenish the water supplies of their locomotives without having to stop the train. As the locomotive reached the start of the water trough (usually indicated by a track side marker board), the fireman would lower a scoop into the trough.