Air pollutionSteam trains were indeed faster than wagons, and steam ships faster and stronger than sailing ships. But the smoke they sent into the air polluted the air. Then diesel and electric trains came, and they were somewhat cleaner.
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Diesel engines are much more efficient than steam engines, but the combustion in the steam engine's firebox can be more carefully controlled and, so, possibly produce less of the types of pollution caused by imperfect combustion.
The transportation sector emits the highest amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of all the U.S. sectors, with the rail sector contributing 2% of those emissions.
These massive, track-mounted vehicles, which use a diesel generator to power electric motors and move rail cars carrying cargo or passengers, are major polluters, responsible for a growing share of the emissions that increase cancer risk, shorten lives and worsen smog across California.
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.
About 150 steam locomotives operate in the U.S. today and they still burn fossil coal. These historic locomotives are often used for tourists hauling a couple million passengers a year.
Trains. Besides walking and biking, traveling by train remains one of the greenest and most environment-friendly options when getting around. Regardless if electric or diesel-powered, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent fewer carbon emissions when compared to cars and airplanes.
In one study conducted at the BNSF Railway Hobart Railyard in Los Angeles, the California Environmental Protection Agency estimated that residents living near a railyard experienced a higher risk of carcinogen exposure.
We find that car and motorcycle use for shopping and leisure activities fell more sharply along lines with a larger increase in regional passenger trains. These results indicate that expansions of local passenger railways reduce air pollution due to substitution from cars and motorcycles to trains.