The earliest trains, built in the early 19th century, were powered by steam engines that burned coal, and coal-fired steam locomotives remain in use today, although they are becoming less common. But how many tons of coal are in a train car? Let’s take a look and find out!
Choo-Choo!
Train travel is one of the oldest forms of transportation. Its invention revolutionized the way people got from place to place, and it remains one of the most popular forms of transportation today. For many of us, the sound of a whistle blowing and a train rumbling down the tracks is a familiar and comforting sound.
Counting the Carloads of Coal
Trains are powered by coal. In the early days of railroads, coal-fired steam locomotives were the only way to move the trains down the tracks. Even today, some trains still use coal-fired locomotives. So, to answer the question of how many tons of coal are in a train car, we must first understand how much coal a locomotive needs.
A Mighty Weighty Matter
A locomotive requires a certain amount of coal to power its journey. The amount of coal needed depends on factors such as the weight of the train and how long the train must travel. Generally speaking, a single locomotive requires around eight tons of coal for a single run. So, if a train is carrying a single locomotive, the amount of coal in the cars would be eight tons.
The Train That Hauls Coal
But what about a train that is solely devoted to hauling coal? In this case, the number of tons of coal in a train car would depend on the length of the train, its weight, and how much coal each car is designed to hold. On average, a train car designed to haul coal can hold anywhere from 12 to 18 tons of coal, depending on its size.
Heaping Helpings of Hefty Cargo
The amount of coal in a train car is further impacted by the type of coal being transported. For example, anthracite coal is much denser than other types of coal, so each car can hold more of it. On the other hand, bituminous coal is lighter, so each car can hold less of it.
Tallying the Tons of Coal
So, how many tons of coal are in a train car? Generally speaking, a train car can hold anywhere from 12 to 18 tons of coal, depending on the size of the car and the type of coal being transported. The amount of coal in a train car also depends on the length of the train and its weight.
So, there you have it! The answer to the question of how many tons of coal are in a train car can vary greatly, depending on the size and weight of the train and the type of coal being transported. But one thing is for sure – the amount of coal in a single train car can be quite hefty!
