Steam coal
It was used to fuel their steam engines, which was their method of locomotion back then.
steam engine trains.
Because they used steam engines, which rely on fire to turn water into steam to power pistons which makes the train move. Also, while in use some of the steam is always released, creating big steam clouds around the locomotive.
Home heating, electricity and was traditionally used as fuel in steam engine ships and trains. Early trains all had a coal car to carry it.
The main fuel IS diesel fuel for both both trains and ships, most freight trains run on electric motors that are powered in most cases by diesel engined generators, while passenger trains are powered by diesel, or directly from an overhead power line, or electrified rail. Trains of course used to be powered by steam, fired by wood or coal. old sailing ships obviously used to be powered by wind and/or manpower. Later they were powered by steam, usually coal fired, and then by diesel fuel.
Railroad trains have - and continue to - run on any of three powers: Coal (steam), diesel fuel, and electricity.
Coal is still used in many steam engines today. Coal is not used on diesel trains or electric trains simply because it is not fuel for them. Electric trains and diesel trains are the most common trains in use, and not trains capable of using coal, because they are more efficent and much less costly to maintain.
Steam trains were once widespread, and changed the world. A steam engine is an external combustion engine, meaning that the fuel burns outside the engine. In modern internal combustion engines the petrol or diesel burns inside the engine, and the gases produced expand and push the cylinders, and this motion eventually turns the wheels. In the steam engine the fuel burns in an external fire box. The heat boils the water to make steam, which pushes the cylinders. So it depends exactly what you mean by 'run'. Certainly there were and are steam trains, but the steam doesn't provide the energy to make it go, the fuel does.
The same things modern trains are used for: hauling cargo and people.
Coal was burnt in the furnace. This heated water in the boiler to high temperatures. The steam was used to operate the pistons and to drive the train.
steam trains were used to pull carriage's full of coal, tanks of oil, wood, and clothing cloths, and any other stuff used in the cities that was going to be used in the factories
They are called steam trains because they are pulled by steam engines.