Working rail roads and their tracks.

[MossRoad]

Some interesting reading on battery powered trains. Don't want to comment on all the known issues of battery procurement, environmental impacts of manufacturing and disposing of batteries, etc., because we all know where that discussion goes, because we've had it already over in the electric car thread.

Just interesting reading....

https://dieselnet.com/news/2021/12berkeley.php

Battery-Electric Freight Trains Could Happen, Eventually

New battery-electric freight trains are beginning to hit the rails, and they could soon be joined by electrified diesel locomotives, too.

cleantechnica.com

One thing I find interesting about electric trains is that electricity can be made from so many sources, Vs diesel fuels.

There's also the differences between battery powered trains VS overhead centenary wires.

Anyhow, all very interesting to see where things will head.

 

[Hay Dude]

Some interesting reading on battery powered trains. Don't want to comment on all the known issues of battery procurement, environmental impacts of manufacturing and disposing of batteries, etc., because we all know where that discussion goes, because we've had it already over in the electric car thread.

Just interesting reading....

https://dieselnet.com/news/2021/12berkeley.php

Battery-Electric Freight Trains Could Happen, Eventually

New battery-electric freight trains are beginning to hit the rails, and they could soon be joined by electrified diesel locomotives, too.

cleantechnica.com

One thing I find interesting about electric trains is that electricity can be made from so many sources, Vs diesel fuels.

There's also the differences between battery powered trains VS overhead centenary wires.

Anyhow, all very interesting to see where things will head.

I could see that being a very viable use of batteries. They’re heavy and locomotives need weight for traction. Already partly or fully electric. Charging stations wouldnt be much of an issue.

 

[MossRoad]

I could see that being a very viable use of batteries. They’re heavy and locomotives need weight for traction. Already partly or fully electric. Charging stations wouldnt be much of an issue.

Yep. And they mentioned they could switch to diesel power if the batteries died. They talked about having battery cars behind the locos.

All kinds of possibilities.

 

[5030]

Charging stations wouldnt be much of an issue.

Certainly would be. I can envision a 1 foot diameter extension cord plugged into a substation that is getting it's juice from a power plant somewhere. That somewhere is fueled by what?

Kind of like the electric car thing. Where does the power originate at?

 

[the old grind]

My trains (~ a dozen) are all electric, run on three evenly-spaced rails, and operate on AC.

 

[5030]

Aw geeze, another hour I have to dedicate to the cause!

Thanks, I'll watch it tonight after the family goes to bed.

You love every minute of it and you know it....

 

[Hay Dude]

Can’t understand why a hybrid couldn’t charge loco batteries on the fly? A diesel with extremely low emissions?

 

[Hay Dude]

Certainly would be. I can envision a 1 foot diameter extension cord plugged into a substation that is getting it's juice from a power plant somewhere. That somewhere is fueled by what?

Kind of like the electric car thing. Where does the power originate at?

Small Power stations built at train yards? Loco houses? Near power generation stations?
I mean this is the United States. We do have some skilz

 

[MossRoad]

Think of the regenerative braking a mile-plus long freight train would have going down a good grade.

 

[5030]

Think of the regenerative braking a mile-plus long freight train would have going down a good grade.

Has to go up the other side....lol

 

[MossRoad]

Has to go up the other side....lol

Yes. But a diesel/electric loco burns fuel all the way up and coasts down using the regenerative braking to help slow it down. A lot of that energy is wasted as heat.

Just like an EV car, the batteries on an EV loco could be recharged with that excess energy, recouping a lot of the energy that was spent getting that load up the hill. Diesel/electrics cannot capture that lost energy.

 

[Hay Dude]

Think of the regenerative braking a mile-plus long freight train would have going down a good grade.

I like it. Great use of batteries and their weight. Regenerative braking could also come through the car brakes, not just the loco.

 

[ArlyA]

I like it. Great use of batteries and their weight. Regenerative braking could also come through the car brakes, not just the loco.

The only brakes on cars is friction, and that's not going to change. If a line was electrified, the down hill trains would be pushing its locomotives, generating power and that goes back into the line with minimal losses. I was told that one loaded train could pull two empty trains up that same hill. Batteries waste power while be charged or sitting idle. How efficient are they today?

 

[MossRoad]

It's all a good discussion for the bean counters.

 

[ArlyA]

Oh gosh,,,, Youtub pointed to me this film made about the big boy that I'd not seen before. It compares its size and HP to all other steam engines in the world and shows a bunch of clips of this class still working in the 60's. What a wonderful film!

 

[BravoXray]

Has anyone seen that CP and KCS are intending to merge?
If it goes through, they will have coverage from the west to the east coast of Canada, through the middle of the US and to southern Mexico. This gives them access to traffic lanes and ports that no other railroad can match.

 

[the old grind]

Isn't that partly to compete with another merger to the West that spans all three countries?

 

[MossRoad]

Has anyone seen that CP and KCS are intending to merge?
If it goes through, they will have coverage from the west to the east coast of Canada, through the middle of the US and to southern Mexico. This gives them access to traffic lanes and ports that no other railroad can match.

Yes. I think there was a competing bid from CN for KCS. Huge deal.

 

[the old grind]

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Seems kind of 'bizzaro' to me. You close coal fired power plants, people against nuclear, all about wind and solar power which only works when the sun shines and the wind blows and the increase the grid load with electric cars and electrification of railroads... What is the tipping point??

Someday, someplace, somebody will put a slice of bread in the toaster and send the whole country into a blackout.