Why are diesel locomotives better than steam?

Steam trains are not very efficient as they heat water and use it once, then heat some more and use that once. No condenser to recover the hot water to use again. Diesel locos are often in the 4000–5000hp range, and are far more efficient than steam engines.



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Power plant capacity is far greater than any individual locomotive uses, so electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration.

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Railroads are efficient but diesel-electric engines are not an especially efficient way to move trains. Even with diesel engines, truck traffic generates nine times as much greenhouse gas emissions per ton mile as trains. But diesel-electric is not efficient due to carrying the diesel electric generator on its back.

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Steam locomotives are no longer used to transport passengers or products because electric and diesel locomotives are faster, more efficient, and easier to maintain. The locomotives that are still running are a piece of history dating back to the 1800's that really put into perspective just how far we've come!

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Diesels replaced steam locomotives because that's what they did - they are more efficient because they cost less money to run. This article, written by US locomotive engineer Al Krug in a series of newsgroup posts, tries to explain the power questions that show how diesels are more efficient than steam locomotives.

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The diesel engine drives an alternator, which produces electricity to run electric motors mounted on the locomotive's axles. The internal combustion engine was a dramatic improvement in efficiency over the steam locomotive, making substantial savings possible in maintenance and the elimination of widespread facilities.

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Railfan & Railroad stated in 2022 that the only places on earth to see steam locomotives in revenue freight service are small switching operations in China, North Korea and Bosnia, but that these were sporadic at best. Tourist locomotives are still in regular use.

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Air pollution Steam 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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Does Russia still use steam locomotives? No. The last one was manufactured in 1953. They've been replaced by other types of locomotives with efficiency rates higher than 13%.

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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.

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American freight trains are often long, heavy, and drive slowly. So, American diesel locomotives are build for that kind of work. That means they have to be heavy to be able to deliver the tractive effort to pull such trains. Otherwise the wheels would slip on the tracks.

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Environment - Emissions from diesel engines contribute to the production of ground-level ozone which damages crops, trees and other vegetation. Also produced is acid rain, which affects soil, lakes and streams and enters the human food chain via water, produce, meat and fish.

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