User:Saihaj/Steam locomotive

I added my edits here but it got reverted https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steam_locomotive&action=history so I am continuing my work here. I copy pasted my work and all the images broke for some reason.

Note: when I copy pasted it destroyed the reference list and the links I had. So check the original history to see all the links I had.

Climate change
Steam locomotives are a significant source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Steam locomotives burned coal, which is a fossil fuel that emits large amounts of carbon dioxide when burned. The use of steam locomotives contributed to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is a major cause of climate change. Steam locomotives also emit other air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These pollutants have local and regional impacts on air quality, which could have had indirect impacts on climate change.

A 2010 study by the American Meteorological Society estimated that the total historical emissions from steam locomotives worldwide were equivalent to about 0.4% of the total CO2 emissions from human activities between 1850 and 2005.

According to a study conducted on the US rail network, a range of climate models were analyzed. The results have indicated that the rail network may face an increase in delay-minute costs that could range between $25 billion and $45 billion cumulatively through 2100, in case of a low greenhouse gas emissions future. In case of a high emission scenario, this cost could increase to anywhere between $35 billion and $60 billion.

The future use of steam locomotives in the United Kingdom is in doubt because of government policy on climate change. The Heritage Railway Association is working with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail in an effort to continue running steam locomotives on coal. Many tourist railroads use oil-fired steam locomotives (or have converted their locomotives to run on oil) to reduce their environmental footprint, and because fuel oil can be easier to obtain than coal of the proper type and sizing for locomotives. For example, the Grand Canyon Railway runs its steam locomotives on used vegetable oil.

Biofuels are a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels as they help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the related climate change. The use of biodiesel can significantly reduce the climate impacts of steam locomotives. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that is made from organic materials such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease. It is a cleaner-burning fuel compared to petroleum-based diesel, which is the primary fuel used in steam locomotives. Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 78% compared to diesel fuel.

An organization called the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) is developing an environmentally friendly coal substitute made from torrefiedbiomass. In early 2019, they performed a series of tests using Everett Railroad to evaluate the performance of the biofuel, with positive results. The biofuel was found to burn slightly faster and hotter than coal. The goal of the project is primarily to find a sustainable fuel for historic steam locomotives on tourist railroads, but CSR has also suggested that, in the future, steam locomotives powered by torrefied biomass could be an environmentally and economically superior alternative to diesel locomotives. Also, a large vat containing (salt) may be used without needing to replenishing the medium. See Masdar [Masdar.ae]. Large heating elements would be one method of recharging the system however, it is possible to pump molten salt as well, removing the cooled salt and replenishing from facilities which contain a much larger vat.