why do you think the train engine get better gas millage (485m/g) while we don't get crap especially with the hike of diesel prices. What can we do to get top miles from what we pay for. Any ideas?..............  

At the bottom of this page (off Union Pacific's site) it gives a good explanation of how they come up with the number comparisons.  

Alot of train engines are diesel over electric....which explains the mileage...  

I read somewhere about a diesel-electric car that got like 200mpg with just a 30hp motor. you could probably do the same thing with a pickup.  

A lot of inefficiency is created by stopping and starting.  Any engine that can run at approximately the same rpm without stopping and starting is going to get much better gas mileage.  That is one of the principles behind hybrids.  If you had reasonable expectations for performance - which I think most people who have diesels already do - you could probably put together a car with an electric motor at each wheel, a team of batteries and a small diesel generator that would run at a prescribed rpm for a certain time - enough to keep the batteries charged - but not power the wheels directly.  Doing this makes the engine much cheaper to build because the fuel system does not have to be so complicated - it runs at virtually constant speed instead of stop....then up to 2200 rpm...slow down to 1300 rpm....up to 2400 rpm for 5 seconds...etc.  With electricity you also have regenerative braking, etc.  If you can find the link to that 200 mpg car I would be interested in seeing it.  

I think the more the brains the better.We can all think of a future diesel truck. Some say its impossible to get 35mpg with our trucks but as gas prices go up i bet you some one will do some thing.  

I was working on a diesel-electric hybrid...the idea would be to have an idling diesel engine and overdriven alternators that combine with electric motors to give you normal driving acceleration with electric only (c.40hp) then the diesel engine would be there if you wanted more.  The problem is that these trucks are so darn heavy and not-aerodynamic that it makes it harder.  

200mpg car..

http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/volkswagen-revives-200+mpg-car-project-252734.php

8.5 horsepower, 660 lbs, tandem seating...it is worlds away from our trucks as far as efficency goes.  Even an idling diesel still uses about a gallon an hour, which would be about 60mpg if you could go 60mph at idle...  

I THINK SOME ONE SHOULD START A PROJECT TO SAVE OUR TRUCKS. WE SHOULD HAVE A FORUM PROJECT WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN MAKE THIS CHANGE. I AM THINKING OF BUYING REMOTE TOY CARS AND WORKING AROUND IT. THE SAME TECHNOLOGY THEY USE ON TOY CARS SHOULD BE USED ON DIESEL TRUCKS. USE THE DIESEL TO START AND USE ELECTRICITY TO DRIVE. MIGHT BE A BIG CONVERSION BUT WORTH THE DRIVE.  

BTW, diesel trans can weigh over 5000 tons...and since they measure fuel economy by how much weight is moved (1 gallon of diesel to move 1 ton 485 miles) Their overall fuel economy (5000 gallons in 485 miles) is about .09mpg, not 485mpg, at least by my calculations, and if I am wrong, somebody let me know  

lol .09 mpg, i thought my 460 was bad  

REALLY WHAT CAN WE DO US DRIVERS TO SEND THE MESSAGE WE ARE HURTING>..  

stop bying fuel, bite the bullet and get a 4 cylinder car that gets 30 some mpg. beleive me it sucks A$$ goin from driving a truck everyday to a little 4 cyl. car. but the 140+ $$ i save ever week in fuel is worth it to me.  

Jason Sands:
I was working on a diesel-electric hybrid...the idea would be to have an idling diesel engine and overdriven alternators that combine with electric motors to give you normal driving acceleration with electric only (c.40hp) then the diesel engine would be there if you wanted more.  The problem is that these trucks are so darn heavy and not-aerodynamic that it makes it harder.

Great minds think alike, Jason:

http://blogs.dieselpowermag.com/1002012/whats-new/the-future-of-diesel-trucks-no-tranny-no-problem/index.html