How big is the fuel tank on a diesel locomotive?

A locomotive fuel tank quantity(size) varies with the locomotive and whether it is a diesel or steam locomotive. Small diesel locos can be around 50 gallons for the tank. Large 4000 to 6000 HP mainline freight locos will usually have a 4000 to 5000 gallon fuel tank under the frame between the power trucks.



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1000 miles between refuellings would not be unreasonable for a road locomotive with a 4000 gallon tank averaging 40 mph on a line with a maximum grade of 1%. However I would want refuel before I am running on the bottom third of the tank, so perhaps 700 miles is more realistic.

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Today's train locomotives are already quite fuel efficient, especially compared to trucks. In fact, trains can haul one ton of goods an average of more than 480 miles on just a single gallon of fuel, making them 3-4 times more fuel efficient than trucks.

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They have a minimum plate thickness of 7/16 inch (11.1 mm) and a maximum capacity of 34,500 US gallons (131,000 L; 28,700 imp gal).

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Loading of coal and water and incidental maintenance takes a steam locomotive about 1 hour. A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump in 10 minutes or so.

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The average fuel consumed per kilo- meter for all passenger and cargo trains is 7.97 L/ km. This value for local, trafficking, railway track laying and maneuvering trains is 7.92 L/km.

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The life expectancy of diesel-electric and electric locomotives is expected to be similar—about 25 years. Both types of motive power are subject to technological obsolescence.

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Even when switchyard locomotives are not moving trains, their diesel engines are usually kept running. This is done to charge batteries, warm engine fluids and meet other operational needs. This can amount to several thousand hours of idling per locomotive each year.

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As more new locomotives are being added to the fleet, the older ones are moved to other less demanding tasks, like moving railcars in a hump yard. Many locomotives can last 30–40 years, depending on the maintenance done on them. Our GG1 Lasted 41 years, but many of the steam locomotives were retired early.

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Chemical holding tanks (retention tanks) are usually included on newer carriages and railcars in wealthier and more densely populated parts of the world. One issue is that the tanks need to be regularly emptied, often at a terminal station or prolonged stop-over.

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A train engine requires about a hundred litres of fuel to get it started. So it wouldn't be economical if the engine is stopped and started frequently. This apart, if the engine is stopped, the moving parts' lubrication will also come to a halt.

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Thus, while drivers may have fewer hours for sleep in between successive work periods, they are likely to sleep more often in a single day and to be awake for correspondingly shorter periods. Relay van workers must also sleep in noisy crew-van carriages that shudder and vibrate along with the movement of the train.

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Are trains more efficient than cars and planes? If you mean energy efficient, yes, trains are far more energy efficient than cars (because they carry so much more people and freight) and planes (who spend so much energy to get 30K feet into the air.)

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A train engine requires about a hundred litres of fuel to get it started. So it wouldn't be economical if the engine is stopped and started frequently. This apart, if the engine is stopped, the moving parts' lubrication will also come to a halt.

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However, building infrastructure in the U.S., especially subways, is very expensive. This CNBC report shows that building subways in the U.S. is more expensive than in most countries because of high labor costs, overbuilt tracks and stations, and onerous regulations.

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