speed

[Anonymous]

What would the speed be for the average diesel frieght train be ?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the engine, but I do know that in the stats for the "Dash-9", the "top speed" is listed for around 80-85 mph, but when two or more engines are together, the maximum speed increases, because they split the air resistence between them, this is the same thing that happens in car racing, when one car "Drafts" or follows another car around the track, except with only inches inbetween them.

[thirdrail1]

The average speed, terminal to terminal, for freight trains is between 15 and 25 miles per hour. This includes the time they spend waiting to leave the yard and also spent in sidings at meets. Freight locomotives are usually geared for between 60 and 90 MPH maximum speed but rarely attain that.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the class of the freight train, the local track conditions and whether it is accellerating, running or decellerating for one reason or another. Fast freights in the Southeast run about 50 mph when track conditions permit. Drag freights (unit coal trains) run 20 mph or so. Mixed freights usually run closer to Fast freights. This does not count the time lost waiting for another train to clear, waiting to leave the yard, pumping up the air, etc.

I hope this helps. - Ed

[Anonymous]

I work as A conductor for Bnsf. There are A number of factors that determin the speed of A locomotive, such as total trailing tonnage, empty or loaded cars, the type of cars, haz. mat. cars etc. Also the teritory you are running, hills, curves, even the temperature. ALL trains that run on BNSF are restricted to A maximum 70 mph for freight and 90mph for passenger. All our newer locomotives are governed for A maximum 70mph but if they weren't they could easily run close to 100mph without A load.

[Anonymous]

slow

[favuprailroadfan]

I live along the UP's Golden State Route in central Kansas. Most the line is 70 mph, along the line from Herington to Pratt, but rarely run this because of trackwork and other restrictions. I used to live in Liberal Kansas which is in the SW part of the state. Most of the stack trains that run through is at 70 mph. Most freights are 50 to 60 mph, but ones that have hazardous materials is only allowed 40. From my experiances with trains. Most of the newer EMD's are governed at 70 mph. These include the GP60's and on up. I think the SD40-2's are governed for 70 also."Please correct me if I'm wrong?" So it all depends on what type of train it is HPT, tonnage, and other factors that make affect speed. Hope that this helps. Dru

[Anonymous]

The reason I asked about speed was because last week I was driving thru a rural area and came across a freight train at a crossing after looking at the trains go by I took out my stop watch and started counting cars I counted 103 cars and 3 engines and 1 caboose. Assuming 50' cars, space for couplers the train was about 1 mile long and it took 23min.to pass which I think is a little more than 2 miles per hour, is this about correct?
I have now put a camera in my truck and it will probably never happen again. Thanks for all your information.
Beeline

[thirdrail1]

I don't dispute that the train took that long to pass one spot, but was it going the same speed when the locomotives passed you as when the caboose passed? It could have been accelerating from a stop or braking to come to a stop. Most slow orders are for 10 MPH, a lot faster than your train was moving! It takes a long time for a freight train to change speeds.

[Anonymous]

Gregg Thanks for you input, I looked at the location on a map although I could not tell if the train was slowing it was, the map shows an almost 90 degree turn about 3/4 mi. down that track from the road crossing I was at and about another mi. or so the track ends in a mining area. so I would say the train was going to stop. Thanks for the 10 mph info.
Beeline

[Anonymous]

Uphill slow...downhill fast. About as fast as you care to go!

[Anonymous]

UPHILL SLOW, DOWNHILL FAST, TONAGE FIRST, SAFTY LAST!

[wabash1]

on all engines it states what the max speed is. on most freight service engines its 70mph and thats when the brakes automaticly set up. now on our division our frieght is 50 mph including coal trains and 60 mph on rail/highway trains, with the exception for certain curves with slower speeds. or cars that have restrictions.

[Anonymous]

If you just mean strictly average speed for all freight it is around 17mph or so, point to point, this includes layover time, crew changes, air tests, train meets, etc,etc. If you mean actual speed that the train can run out in the open, that varies greatly from location to location and train to train. One of the prime limiting factors is the type of cars on the train, example on the UP, most empty bulkhead flats (except centerbeam) are limited to 40mph. Hazmat trains with enough cars to qualify as Key trains are limited to 50. Most stack trains and auto racks are 70. Most other empty cars are restricted to 60 or less. All it takes is one restricted car to restrict the whole train, (it's the weak link).
The other factors limiting speed are subdivision max speed limit, curves, hills, wind (yep wind will knock the speed of an underpowered train down badly), horsepower/ton, and several other factors. Almost all road units are geared for a maximum speed of 70 (this is a compromise between pulling power and speed, get good pulling power at low speed, don't exceed the traction motor's rotational maximum when going 70).

[Anonymous]

I am a italian railfan. I would appeal to know the speed of
the freight trains that transport produced dangerous like as an example
produced chemical as it is in runs in plain is if it runs on a mountainous distance.
I make excuses for the my errors of writing of the English language.
Thank you.