What is the braking distance of a locomotive?
What is the braking distance of a locomotive? The average freight train is about 1 to 1¼ miles in length (90 to 120 rail cars). When it's moving at 55 miles an hour, it can take a mile or more to stop after the locomotive engineer fully applies the emergency brake. An 8-car passenger train moving at 80 miles an hour needs about a mile to stop.
How long does it take for a train to stop going 55 mph?
An average freight train traveling at 55 mph may take a mile (5,280 feet) or more to stop, the length of 18 football fields! Trains can stop, but they can't stop quickly.
How long does it take a fully loaded train to stop?
The average freight train is about 1 to 1¼ miles in length (90 to 120 rail cars). When it's moving at 55 miles an hour, it can take a mile or more to stop after the locomotive engineer fully applies the emergency brake.