Interesting Statictic of the Day: Coal Cost

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 5:14 pm

Interesting statistic, cited by Rich Melvin of the Fort Wayne 765 group over in a post on TrainOrders.com:

The coal alone for a NKP Berkshire to operate over the main line now works out to about $19 a mile.

Howard P. · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:14 pm

RMNE recently paid $240 per ton for the coal used in FC 75. The old "rule of thumb" about over-the-road consumption was about 20 miles to the ton. Mabe Lima Superpower gets better mileage than average?

Howard P.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

That $19 a mile is right around 4 times the fuel cost per mile figure commonly used for an F40PHM-2C running 2/3 HEP capacity with six bilevels at 70 mph on level track. It is interesting that it comes out very close to the ratio of an energy efficiency comparison Shell Oil Company made in the 1930s between coal fired steam, diesel, and gasoline. I remember that one because it showed a string of live horses pulling the load (representing fuel used for work) and a pile of of dead horses representing the fuel wasted in thermal losses. It wouldn't be politically correct nowadays.

PC

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:54 pm

PCook wrote:

That $19 a mile is right around 4 times the fuel cost per mile figure commonly used for an F40PHM-2C running 2/3 HEP capacity with six bilevels at 70 mph on level track.

Factor in the fuel used by either a HEP generator car, a passenger locomotive, or the various stand=alone on-car generators on a typical mainline excursion of equivalent capacity, and I'll bet we're up to 5 times the fuel per mile. Maybe six.

filmteknik · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:09 pm

Huh? He already is comparing to a passenger locomotive running HEP.

So if coal is $19 a mile how much is the fuel cost per mile for oil fired steam, say, 4449, either bunker fuel if you can find it or used crankcase oil?

Steve

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:53 pm

No, no, no. Read again.

Factor in the extra fuel to run the HEP ON A STEAM EXCURSION (you're NOT going to get a main line excursion without first class cars and no AC in the 21st century), and that goes way above the coal cost we've already alleged to be $19 a mile.

$19/mile coal + [whatever] HEP fuel
versus
HEP-equipped diesel fuel
versus
non-HEP loco fuel + HEP fuel

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

I think the estimate of 5x to 6x the fuel cost when including the cost of the fuel for separate HEP on the steam train is pretty accurate and is right in line with a posting some time ago comparing steam excursion fuel cost per mile with diesel costs. Unfortunately I cannot remember whether that previous comparison was offered on RYPN or on another discussion site, it was a couple years ago.

PC