Table 4-17: Class I Rail Freight Fuel Consumption and Travel
Table 4-17: Class I Rail Freight Fuel Consumption and Travel
| 1960 | 1965 | 1970 | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number in use | |||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotivesa | 29,031 | 27,780 | 27,077 | 27,846 | 28,094 | 22,548 | 18,835 | 18,344 | 18,004 | 18,161 | 18,505 | 18,812 | 19,269 | 19,684 | 20,261 | 20,256 | 20,028 | 19,745 | 20,506 |
| Carsb | 1,965,486 | 1,800,662 | 1,784,181 | 1,723,605 | 1,710,827 | 1,421,686 | 1,212,261 | 1,189,660 | 1,173,136 | 1,173,132 | 1,192,412 | 1,218,927 | 1,240,573 | 1,270,419 | 1,315,667 | 1,368,836 | 1,380,796 | 1,314,136 | 1,299,670 |
| Miles traveled (millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Freight train-milesc | 404 | 421 | 427 | 403 | 428 | 347 | 380 | 375 | 390 | 405 | 441 | 458 | 469 | 475 | 475 | 490 | 504 | 500 | 500 |
| Locomotive unit-miles | N | N | N | 1,479 | 1,531 | 1,228 | 1,280 | 1,238 | 1,278 | 1,320 | 1,405 | 1,445 | 1,465 | 1,423 | 1,440 | 1,504 | 1,503 | (R) 1,478 | 1,444 |
| Car-miles | 28,170 | 29,336 | 29,890 | 27,656 | 29,277 | 24,920 | 26,159 | 25,628 | 26,128 | 26,883 | 28,485 | 30,383 | 31,715 | 31,660 | 32,657 | 33,851 | 34,590 | 34,243 | 34,680 |
| Average miles traveled per vehicle (thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotives | N | N | N | 53.1 | 54.5 | 54.5 | 68.0 | 67.5 | 71.0 | 72.7 | 75.9 | 76.8 | 76.0 | 72.3 | 71.1 | 74.2 | 75.0 | (R) 74.9 | 70.4 |
| Cars | 14.3 | 16.3 | 16.8 | 16.0 | 17.1 | 17.5 | 21.6 | 21.5 | 22.3 | 22.9 | 23.9 | 24.9 | 25.6 | 24.9 | 24.8 | 24.7 | 25.1 | 26.1 | 26.7 |
| Average miles traveled per gallon | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trains | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.13 |
| Cars | 8.13 | 8.17 | 8.43 | 7.56 | 7.50 | 8.01 | 8.40 | 8.82 | 8.69 | 8.71 | 8.54 | 8.73 | 8.86 | 8.86 | 9.11 | 9.11 | 9.35 | 9.23 | 9.30 |
| Fuel consumed (million gallons) | 3,463 | 3,592 | 3,545 | 3,657 | 3,904 | 3,110 | 3,115 | 2,906 | 3,005 | 3,088 | 3,334 | 3,480 | 3,579 | 3,575 | 3,583 | 3,715 | 3,700 | 3,710 | 3,730 |
| Average fuel consumed per locomotivea (thousand gallons) | 119.3 | 129.3 | 130.9 | 131.3 | 139.0 | 137.9 | 165.4 | 158.4 | 166.9 | 170.0 | 180.2 | 185.0 | 185.7 | 181.6 | 176.8 | 183.4 | 184.7 | 187.9 | 181.9 |
KEY: N = data do not exist; R = revised; U = data are not available.
a For 1960-80, the total includes a small number of steam and electric units, which are not included in the per locomotive fuel consumption figure.
b Includes cars owned by Class I railroads, other railroads, car companies, and shippers.
c Based on the distance run between terminals and / or stations; does not include yard or passenger train-miles.
SOURCES
All data except for locomotive unit-miles:
Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: November 2003), pp. 33, 34, 40, 49, and 51.
Locomotive unit-miles:
1975-92, 2002: Ibid., Railroad Ten-Year Trends (Washington, DC: Annual issues).
1993-2001: Ibid., Analysis of Class I Railroads (Washington, DC: Annual issues)