June 28, 2022
July 1, 2022, marks Union Pacific Railroad’s 160th anniversary. On that day in 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, which founded Union Pacific and provided federal subsidies in both land and loans to construct the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Just as the Internet has impacted nearly every facet of modern-day life, so too did the transcontinental railroad. When it was finished, the American way of life was changed forever — from the food we eat to the clothes we wear and even how we tell time.
After 16 decades, the railroad has changed a lot, too. These are just a few of the evolutionary steps the industry has taken since Lincoln took to the pen in 1862.
In the 1800s, external combustion locomotives burned wood, coal, and oil to heat water in the locomotive’s boiler, allowing it to create steam. When the steam expanded, it gave the engine the force it needed to propel itself forward. Today, most locomotives are powered by diesel engines, like the Tier 4 locomotive.
Even so, locomotive power continues to evolve. Railroads are currently testing battery-electric locomotives and researching hydrogen fuel cell locomotives to work toward running net-zero emission operations.
Today, locomotives are more fuel efficient than ever before. In fact, railroads can move one ton of freight more than 480 miles on a single gallon of fuel — up from 470 miles per gallon in the years prior.
Locomotive fuel efficiency improvements have been made possible by a combination of technological advances. Some of these include:
Improved fuel efficiency also translates to fewer emissions, making rail the most environmentally responsible way to ship freight by land.
In addition to becoming more aerodynamic, rail cars have evolved, becoming better suited to the commodities they ship.
Refrigerated boxcars (aka “reefers”) are equipped with refrigeration units to keep temperature-sensitive products safe during transit. Refrigerated shipments include perishable items like potatoes (including frozen french fries), meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, onions, apples, fruit juice and more.
Although refrigeration units are responsible for pumping cold air into reefers to keep products cool, the way a reefer car is designed and built plays a major role in maintaining the temperature. The most recent refrigerated boxcar designs have improved insulation, car construction, air flow and seals, all of which keep products throughout the reefer at consistent, optimal temperatures. When a reefer has improved thermal performance, the unit doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a consistent temperature and is therefore more fuel efficient.
In the old days, a shipper didn’t know where a shipment was until it arrived at its destination. Now, shippers have access to a lot more information to better manage their supply chains and their business.
Many people would be surprised about the ways railroads use technology to keep operations running safely and efficiently.
Railroads have lessened their environmental burden significantly through fuel efficiency improvements. But they are also taking other actions to be more environmentally responsible.
Railroads continue to evolve to ship freight in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible way, while working to provide railroad customers with improved data and visibility. The U.S. Department of Transportation expects total freight demand to grow 30% by 2040, which means more industry improvements will be required to meet the demand.
To learn more about shipping by rail, answer a few quick questions and a shipping expert will be in touch.
Related Articles