Quote:
Originally Posted by s.p.hansen
In reading about this and seeing these pictures I can't help but think, why doesn't Union Pacific electrify its freight lines along the Wasatch Front?
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Well, UP sort of does have electrified freight lines. A UP engineer told me that the locomotives they use have diesel engines that only run electric generators for the electric motors that actually pull the train. So, they create their own electricity on board instead of getting it via wire.
Wikipedia: "A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors.... This kind of power transmission is used on railways by diesel electric locomotives and diesel electric multiple units as only electric motors are able to supply full torque at 0 RPM. Diesel-electric systems are also used in submarines and surface ships and some land vehicles."
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel-...c_transmission