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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What is the average life of a locomotive? 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.
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.
What is the life expectancy of a diesel locomotive? Back in the early days of dieselization (1940's and 1950's) the rule of thumb was 15 years.. and most first generation diesels operated for about that many years. but now 20-30 years is closer to average.
Santie Oil stocks train engine oil in 40–60-gallon drums or 40–260-gallon totes to help diesel mechanics keep locomotives in top condition. The Federal Railroad Administration requires train engine oil to be changed every 180 days (formerly 92 days), and the time may be extended based on the oil's condition.
Old diesel locomotives have been scrapped and auctioned in the past after they had completed their codal life and were found uneconomical to operate. These locomotives were dismantled and auctioned piecemeal.
A new locomotive can cost anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars, depending on the type and size of the locomotive. For example, a diesel-electric locomotive can cost between $1.5 and $5 million, while a high-speed electric passenger train can cost $20 million or more.
When it's moving at 55 miles an hour, it can take a mile or more to stop after the locomotive engineer fully applies the emergency brake. An 8-car passenger train moving at 80 miles an hour needs about a mile to stop.
Engines may be left idling to maintain important safety related functions such as maintaining engine temperature, air pressure for the brake system, the integrity of the starting systems, the electrical system and providing heating or cooling to a train's crew and/or passengers.
The current world speed record for a commercial train on steel wheels is held by the French TGV at 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph), achieved on 3 April 2007 on the new LGV Est. The trainset, the track and the cantenary were modified to test new designs.
For a fuel cost of $0.84 per liter of diesel ($3.17 per gallon) (AAR (2012b)), this results in an average running fuel cost of $185 per locomotive-hour.
CN declined to say how much it is spending on the locomotives, but an industry source said they cost about $3-million (U.S.) each. The 195-tonne locomotives produce 4,500 horsepower and can pull a freight train at 110 kilometres an hour, GE says.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cells, combined with batteries to store electricity, would be a zero-emissions solution to replace the diesel-electric locomotive, Moslener says.
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.