Trains can move a ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of fuel.
http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-csx/projects-and-partnerships/fuel-efficiency/
Saw this on a TV ad last night. If trains can go 500 mpg, why can’t cars?
Now that I read the article, I see what an idiot they knew I was when they made they made the TV commercial.
Their formula factors in revenue and tons of freight moved to arrive at mpg.
They had me for a little while.
Because trains don't go 500 miles on a gallon. They can move one ton on a gallon for 500 miles but the entire train must use a gallon for each ton it moves.
They operate with steel wheels on steel rails (low friction), they seldom have steep hills to climb and once at cruising speed they don't have stop signs or red lights to make them come to a stop and get to speed again.
I don't know how many tons a hundred car freight train weighs, but keep in mind the entire train does not go 500 mile on a gallon. They are using a measurement for ton of freight. If the entire weight of the train and its freight were 100 tons, it uses 100 gallons per mile.
Rail shipment is a very efficient way to transport bulk goods and I too have seen that ad, but it is very deceptive when they break it down to the weight they move. Stand next to one of those big diesel electric engines on day and feel the ground around you shake as they rev the engine. Those suckers don't go 500 miles on a gallon.