Zero emissions locomotives

I don't think this is even a question nor should it be an argument anymore, and hydrogen fuel cell locomotives are hands-down the winner. Sure, there is a lot to go for clean mass production of hydrogen, but the problem is not unsolvable. It is similar to nuclear power. They are totally safe (Fukushima and Chernobyl are the result of degrees of neglect and human error), but have the problem of nuclear waste. It is expensive, but can be solved. Additionally, nuclear power can also make clean hydrogen. Back to hydrogen fuel cell locomotives. Unlike the Hindenburg, these locomotives and other HFCVs are more likely to use solid and safe storage of the hydrogen unlike the Hindenburg. As for battery-electric locomotives, they are rather impractical. If you want more range, you need to make the battery pack bigger. Bigger packs mean more weight. Bigger packs also mean more pollution to mine the stuff needed for these batteries. The only real practical things I see battery-electric locomotives can do is shunting, switching, commuter passenger service, and local freight. Long-haul freight trains and high-speed trains like hot shot freight trains and express passenger trains would be completely out of the question. Additionally, there are fires. While it would be comparable to a diesel locomotive fire, I believe a burning battery locomotive would also put toxic chemicals and metals from the battery, and the battery is a large one, too. That fire, probably unlike a diesel, would take a lot of water to put out. Take a look at the news on Tesla fires. I believe a battery-electric locomotive would take like an entire fire department to put it out. Sure, you can probably just use a fire blanket to save water. However, after a fire on a battery-electric locomotive is put out, there is a chance it will come back again, unlike diesel locomotives. Let's also not forget that weather conditions affect performance. Combustion engines and fuel cells perform far superior to a battery locomotive in winter. During the cold times, Tesla ranges decrease by like a lot. Imagine this with battery-electric locomotives. The battery also needs to operate other stuff like heating, air conditioning, etc. other than powering the motors. Whoever has plans for battery-electric locomotives on their long-distance roster is stupid. Hydrogen fuel cell locomotives are the safer option, and have more benefits. Or maybe you can electrify your rail lines.

what happened to pantographs and overhead wires?
ig they do have indirect emissions from whatever power plant is supplying the electricity but still

They are good too. I included in the end of my paragraph "maybe you can electrify your rail lines."

oh i didn't see that lol my bad
i mean, pantograph+wires *are* the most mainstream form of railway electricification (3rd rail is only really used in subways, and the British also really like them for some reason) so that's why i mentioned it lol

True but running wire above your entire railway is very expensive

yeah, that's one of the main downsides tbh

like, really, one can choose between line electrification or a supply on the locomotive
the former is mainstream, has gotten fairly reliable thanks to many decades of improvements, and trains running on it are lighter, but requires a lot of infrastructure and thus money (probably a major reason why the US doesn't have a lot of it)
the latter allows compatibility with existing lines, therefore not needing new infrastructure, also less need for extra power stations to be built, but the locos are gonna be somewhat (hydrogen) or extremely (battery) heavy when compared to diesel, steam, or overhead-electric, and because you need storage space for the supply it means passenger EMU's are mostly out of the question

What if the battery-electric locomotive catches on fire?

It would be about as bad as if a diesel locomotive catches on fire

Have you seen Teslas catch on fire before?

No, but worst case scenario is they explode, and so would diesel locomotives

Do you know how long a battery fire lasts?

Do yo know how long 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel burns?

Ik, but how much water would you need for a battery fire, or how big of a fire blanket?
Also, how long does it take to charge such a large battery?

They aren’t perfect, but they are better than dying of an environmental crisis

Do you know what is better than battery-electric locomotives but still don't need overhead cantenary lines and also better than diesels? Hydrogen fuel cell locomotives.

I agree. I personally think the same thing! I thought you were arguing that eco-friendly locomotives are bad, which is why I was arguing with you

Well you should have known that I did not mention hydrogen fuel cell locomotives in the anti-battery locomotives. Plus, for battery locomotives, you need to destroy the surface of the Earth to get metals needed for them.