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Re: [SFBike] Oilier-than-thou hypocrites
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rob b
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Oct 11, 2005 18:18 PDT
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Actually, according to a recent article in the New Yorker, most Amtrak
engines run on electricity, which is generated by on-board diesel-fueled
generators. They didn't discuss whether they got more miles/gallon than
by using the diesel to power the train directly, but the electric
engines are much stronger, and can carry much larger payloads (1.75
miles of coal-filled hopper cars in this case) up steeper grades than
diesel engines.
Does anyone else remember when the 1-California (then the 55 Sacramento)
was diesel powered? Often, when the bus was heading west at commute
capacity, passengers had to exit the bus at Powell and Sacramento so the
bus could make it up the Sacramento Street hill. People would walk up
the block-long hill and get back on the bus at Mason. The line has
since been electrified.
Rob
Manish Champsee wrote:
| | for the record, don't most Amtrak trains run on diesel? If people
aren't using Amtrak due to low subsidies, one would assume that the
fuel/passenger would be disadvantageous as compared to the
fuel/passenger of an airplane.
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