Originally posted by jsobecky
That's incredible fuel efficiency, no? How can a train accomplish that feat?
Simple. Large load spread out over hundreds of axles. The ground supports the weight, and the loco just has to overcome the rolling resistance,
which is most economical the longer the haul of a train is.
It is the same principal as if you were carrying a person piggy back. Two people walking will exert more energy than one person carrying another.
Why? Because part of their load is distributed through the bones. You only have to exert the energy to get the thing moving.
Trains are incredibly efficient compared to OTR freight. It's a conspiracy in itself that oil companies have all but eliminated rail freight as it
used to be.
When cheap oil is gone, you better go back to rail.
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