TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES 1920-2010 OF LOCOMOTIVES
Steam Engines were the predominant mode of transport for freight in the 1920's, and was also an efficient way to travel. Steam engines back then however, were not as efficient as they are now. The thermal efficiency was 6%, meaning for every 100 BTU's of coal burned, only 6 BTU's of horsepower was generated. This compared to the current AC Diesel locomotive's 36% thermal efficiency, is highly ineffective. Later, in the 1930's, Andre Chapelon, a scientist, applied the laws of thermodynamics to the steam engine. He implemented use of higher boiler pressure, measured at 290 PSI, steam temperatures of approximately 750F, and larger cross section steam circuits to create a more efficient exhaust design. He effectively doubled the thermal efficiency rate, as the new model trains were producing 12 BTU's of horsepower for every 100 BTU's of coal. After this, Livio Dante Porta developed a clean, and higher efficiency combustion method, which resulted in cleaner exhaust later in the 1940's before WW2. He also invented heavy duty boiler water treatment, making the engines more effective and faster. After this development, David Wardale, raised the drawbar horsepower of the steam engine from 2,500 to 4,000. That's a 60% increase, which is impressive compared to the 6% being generated in the beginning.
After the 1950's however, Diesel engines became the dominant mode of railway transport. The first working Diesel railway was built in 1918, and it could haul one 60 tonne boxcar. It had a 300 horsepower engine, and required significantly less maintenance than the steam engine. Despite this, it still took the Diesel engine 50 years to render the steam engine obsolete, and steam locomotives are rarely used now.
Electrical locomotives however, are soon going to overshadow Diesel Engines. Electrical locomotives have not only become more efficient, and faster, they're better for the environment. Electric locomotives can go at a speeds exceeding 100m/h, while a diesel locomotives measured maximum speed is 79m/h. Not only this, the Electric train produces less pollution, and no air pollutants. An electric train produces 367 micrograms of carbon monoxide per cubic meter of air. In the Stoughton region, the railways produce 24,656,479 tons of carbon dioxide. It's imperative that we try to cut down on the pollutants being released into the air. Electric trains are, however significantly more expensive than Diesel locomotives, a 55 mile electric locomotive costs 1.82 billion USD, while a diesel train would only cost 1.27 billion USD.
After the 1950's however, Diesel engines became the dominant mode of railway transport. The first working Diesel railway was built in 1918, and it could haul one 60 tonne boxcar. It had a 300 horsepower engine, and required significantly less maintenance than the steam engine. Despite this, it still took the Diesel engine 50 years to render the steam engine obsolete, and steam locomotives are rarely used now.
Electrical locomotives however, are soon going to overshadow Diesel Engines. Electrical locomotives have not only become more efficient, and faster, they're better for the environment. Electric locomotives can go at a speeds exceeding 100m/h, while a diesel locomotives measured maximum speed is 79m/h. Not only this, the Electric train produces less pollution, and no air pollutants. An electric train produces 367 micrograms of carbon monoxide per cubic meter of air. In the Stoughton region, the railways produce 24,656,479 tons of carbon dioxide. It's imperative that we try to cut down on the pollutants being released into the air. Electric trains are, however significantly more expensive than Diesel locomotives, a 55 mile electric locomotive costs 1.82 billion USD, while a diesel train would only cost 1.27 billion USD.