Comments by "gary K" (@garyK.45ACP) on "‘How Long Would It Take To Replace All Diesel Locomotives With Electric?’ Cynthia Lummis" video.

  1. 👍👍 Your understanding is correct.
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  2. How things work... Current locomotives ARE electric powered!!!!!!! The diesel engine inside the locomotive drives an electric GENERATOR that provides the ELECTRIC MOTORS of the locomotive with ELECTRIC power to pull the train. They carry their electric generator WITH THEM. Given the vast distances covered by trains the USA, this is the MOST EFFICIENT method of generating the electricity needed to power the trains. Trains are extremely efficient in the amount of fuel used per ton/mile of cargo moved. If they were "electric" locomotives (as frequently used in Europe or in subways and light rail in the USA) they would need to get electric power from a remote generator through wires which REDUCE the efficiency of the transfer of electric power. The remote generator would have to be powered by some sort of FUEL to produce electricity. Battery powered locomotives are even LESS efficient! For each transfer of energy, there is a LOSS through heat and friction. (YES there is friction from electricity moving through wires) Locating the SOURCE of the power as closely as possible to the USE of the power and reducing the TRANSFERS. Fuel > generator > transmission wires > transformers (to increase voltage for long distance transmission and then to reduce the voltage again to to usable levels) > rectifier (to convert AC to DC for battery storage) > battery > inverter (to convert DC back to AC for the motors) > electric motor. A DIESEL/ELECTRIC locomotive (that IS what they are called) eliminates the transmission wires, transformers, rectifier, battery storage and inverter and provides AC electric power directly from the AC generator to the AC motors driving the train! In case no one has been paying attention to the current energy crisis in Europe caused by the sanctioning of Russian coal, oil and natural gas... Europe gets much of it's FUEL to produce electricity for electric trains from coal, oil and natural gas. They are seeking alternate sources of fossil fuel to power their generators to power electric trains. Europe also has a much a higher percentage of electric power from nuclear power plants than the USA. Likewise, the electric trains in the USA, mostly subways and above ground light commuter rail, also get their electricity from fossil fuel power plants. When you see a TRAIN LOAD of COAL, think of it as "another load of fuel for electric cars and trains". Electricity is NOT AN ENERGY SOURCE!!!!!!!!!! It is a PRODUCT of energy sources!!!!!!!!
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