Diesel fuel is heavier and oilier than gasoline. It's also priced higher, but has a higher energy density, which provides for higher mileage. For this reason, diesel engines are commonly used as mechanical engines in locomotives. Locomotives transport billions of tons of goods across the U.S. every year, so it makes sense to have a cost-effective, high mileage fuel running through their engines.
All locomotives have axles, bearings, bell cranks and reversing gear that need to be lubricated. Locomotives need a specially designed lubricant that's made for high mileage and heavy loads, and it's a plus that lubricating oil is also water resistant. Trains travel through rain, snow and sleet to deliver products and passengers, so the use of water-resistant lubricating oil assures that the axles, bearings and gears don't need to be constantly re-lubricated.
Curves on railroad tracks and switches need protective grease applied frequently to prevent excessive wear. Rail curve grease is a special low temperature pump-able grease designed especially for high load carrying capacity, making it perfect for train tracks. Railroad tracks support a lot of traffic and are subjected to harsh outdoor elements. Rail curve grease is water resistant and prevents rust and corrosion.
Since the beginning of train transportation, kerosene was used in lanterns as a portable light source for nighttime communication. Engineers and brakeman would use the lanterns to signal instructions to each other, especially when hooking up or rearranging railroad cars, and they were also used for heat. Even though we have flashlights today, some engineers prefer lanterns because they last longer and emit better light.
