Just something I found interesting. http://ge.ecomagination.com/ Click "Transportation Rail" Requires Macromedia flash.
I've seen one of the BNSF ES44DCs on the point of a northbound empty rock train in Sherman. I wouldn't have known what it was if I didn't see the model designation on the frame. Nice-looking locomotive.....
Yeah, Norfolk Southern has 15 of them... I caught the class unit, # 7500, leading # 7513 on a train the other day. They used to be in more captive service, but are now mixed in more freely with other units. Visually, they are very similar to recent Dash 9's. The biggest spotting feature is probably the large radiator sections. Harold
I'm all for hybrid locos and this seems like a brilliant Idea although I would think it would make as much sense in a slug formation, but what bothers me most in Railroading right now is that it would be so easy to meet environmental standards bys imply switching to biodiesel. It wouldn't reduce costs by much, but instantly turning every locomotive you own into a tier 2 compliant loco has to be worth something. Just one more example of how the alternative fuel and Eco-friendly alternatives industry pisses me off.
I heard on the news last night that biodiesel used in locomotives produce excessive NOx and some sort of catalytic converter must be installed (in California).
Hmm.......diesel fuel made from soybeans pumping out more NOx than diesel fuel from oil.....where did this news story get its data from?
Bob - From the 17 June 2005 edition of the Altamont Press Railroad News: Railroad owner faces $25K fine Sierra Railroad Company, a small independent railroad operator with tracks in Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties in California, may have to pay $25,000 for failing to live up to a 2002 court-approved agreement to power its locomotives on biodiesel fuel. The fine would be punishment for a diesel fuel spill at the railroad's Chinese Camp yard more than five years ago. According to court documents, on Feb10, 2000, a ruptured fuel line on a Sierra Railroad locomotive caused between 250 and 400 gallons of fuel to spill. That spill prompted Tuolumne County District Attorney Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Will Richmond to file a civil complaint against the railroad to force the railroad to take steps to avoid future spills and to either convert all its locomotives from diesel fuel to biodiesel fuel or pay $25,000 by Jul01, 2003. Sierra Railroad owner Mike Hart, agreed to the stipulations in April 2002. Two months after Hart signed off on the agreement, he accepted an Environmental Hero award from the Environmental Protection Agency for "becoming the first railroad in the country to operate on biodiesel." When the company was honored by the EPA, Hart said the railroad was using biodiesel fuel trucked from Florida for a testing program. But none of Sierra's five locomotives are currently powered by biodiesel fuel. When Richmond discovered Sierra Railroad was in fact not using biodiesel fuel he contacted the company's lawyer and, said the prosecutor, was given "a litany of excuses." "He said it was too expensive, the fuel is not efficient and there was a lack of availability," Richmond said. "But he has made no move to modify the order from the court." Hart countered that it never occurred to him to modify the court order. "We said we were going to convert our locomotives and we did," Hart said yesterday. "We didn't say at what level we would use biodiesel fuel. We said we would use the biodiesel fuel as we could, as was dictated by the market." Once the engines are converted they can run on either diesel or biodiesel fuel, he said. "On Apr02, 2002, we knew we could convert but not be able to use biodiesel fuel. Will Richmond knew it too. For him to come back now, more than two years later and tell us something different is ridiculous." Richmond said Hart has not complied with the order and a hearing is set in Tuolumne County Superior Court for Jul07. Hart said he cannot afford to use biodiesel fuel now because California has no biodiesel fuel plants. The railroad owner also said biodiesel fuel is not acceptable to the San Joaquin County Air Pollution Control Board because it emits too much nitrogen oxide into the air. He further said he is working with the state on a selective catalytic reduction device which will clean up the exhaust created from burning biodiesel fuel. "Believe me, our objective is to run on pure biodiesel fuel and we are actively trying to make that happen, but it is still very expensive," Hart said. Hart called the action by Richmond malicious and unnecessary and accused Richmond of failing to study up on the biodiesel industry or issues. "My opinion of Will Richmond is that he is a bumper sticker environmentalist," Hart said. "All he does in the name of helping the environment is recycle Pepsi cans. And you just can't get rid of him. He's like a booger." Hart did say he is actively seeking an affordable source to bring biodiesel fuel to California for diesel engines to run on. He has a meeting next week with the Malaysia Palm Oil Association to see if the Asian country can export its oil to a port in Oakland he said. Hart runs dinner trains between Oakdale and Sonora and hauls lumber for Sierra Pacific Industries, with mills in Standard and Chinese Camp, with five locomotives. - Amy Lindblom, The Sonora Union Democrat, courtesy Larry W. Grant *****
http://www.alternet.org/story/15485 Leave it to California to stop environmental progress a 94% reduction in cancer risks and a 78% reduction in CO2 by all railroad engines and a 5.8% increase in NOx. Sounds like a nobrainer to me. Costs will come down as production increases, but production won't increase until consumers exist, but consumers won't buy till costs come down. Can you say catch22. This is the kind of thing the government should be fixing. Breaking the catch22, but they're too busy wasting time and money elsewhere. Also, I like that the guy called Richmond a Booger.
Good to know that GE cares about the environment Only problem with internal combustion engines is some negative bi-product is always produced. Petrol is lots of CO2 and biodiesel is NOx. That would be cool if locos could be fueled more w/ it, but theres no real infastructure to produce it. That sweet smell of diesel smoke would be replaced with the smells of a deep frier!
I think GE's design is much more significant than this biodiesel stuff. Using the current generated by dynamic braking instead of throwing it away is beautiful.
Yes and no, It's not like GE invented that. In fact Railpower Technologies might have a thing or two to say about it. And, there's no need for these to be mutually exclusive technologies which is my whole problem in the first place. What I really want to see is Slugs that are greengoats. Think about it, right now, a slug gets its power from a mother unit. Well, what if that slug had batteries instead of concrete so that it actually powered itself to some extent. This is where I think this technology could really shine and I don't know why RPT hasn't produced a prototype. I mean CSX has roadslugs all over the place, There are plent of 4-axle units 3000HP or better to use as mothers. If only I had the startup capital. And you could still use the regenerative braking. OH, and Welcome to trainboard.
AC4400, Tolland, CO: GEVO, Cheyenne, WY: (note the huge radiator thickness, the longer radiator section, with a notable bulge on top, among other things)
BNSF versions: Dash 9-44CW: Cheyenne, WY: AC4400: Denver, CO GEVO: Cheyenne, WY [ July 09, 2005, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: HemiAdda2d ]
