Switching railroad makes the switch (organic, gas, natural, cost)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The grant was facilitated by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Once implemented the conversion is expected to eliminate 118.68 kgs of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) on a daily basis, or 43.3 metric ton annually. Compared with diesel-powered operations, particulate matter emissions will decrease by 97 percent and nitrogen oxides emissions by 87 percent.
If railroads really want to save and cut emissions they need to do some retraining. I was working in NE a few years ago right next to a railroad switching area. We noticed that they never shut the locomotives off! Except to check fluids. seriously they would show up in the morning, shut the locomotive off, then 15 minutes later they would restart. They would switch a few cars, and then a hour later, park it and lock it up, running, and return the next day. The locals told me that is always the case. They were told it was too hard on the engine to shut it off and have to restart cold, in the middle of the summer no less!
Sometimes engines HAVE to be kept running to keep up brake pressure in cars. If you have ever heard an old engine not want to start, it is painful to hear.
There was another initiative with battery operated switchers that use a tiny motor to keep batteries topped off. Not sure what ever happened to the idea.
If railroads really want to save and cut emissions they need to do some retraining. I was working in NE a few years ago right next to a railroad switching area. We noticed that they never shut the locomotives off! Except to check fluids. seriously they would show up in the morning, shut the locomotive off, then 15 minutes later they would restart. They would switch a few cars, and then a hour later, park it and lock it up, running, and return the next day. The locals told me that is always the case. They were told it was too hard on the engine to shut it off and have to restart cold, in the middle of the summer no less!
\Standard rail engine is a GMEMD 645. @3500hp And yes the worst thing you can do to a big diesel is to shut it down.....as for the natural gas issue....yea great..wait till the cost of you stuff goes up to pay for shipping....Oh BTW before you second guess my big engine expertise those loco engines are go cart engines compared to the units I run... and in the last month in one plant I burned @ 60 THOUSAND gallons of nasty old diesel fuel because natural gas was curtailed...
\Standard rail engine is a GMEMD 645. @3500hp And yes the worst thing you can do to a big diesel is to shut it down.....as for the natural gas issue....yea great..wait till the cost of you stuff goes up to pay for shipping....Oh BTW before you second guess my big engine expertise those loco engines are go cart engines compared to the units I run... and in the last month in one plant I burned @ 60 THOUSAND gallons of nasty old diesel fuel because natural gas was curtailed...
The wear and tear on a locomotive-sized Diesel engine from regular stopping and restarting is costlier than most people not familiar with the industry recognize; the biggest things on rails I've ever actually heard started up were the 600 HP engines on a Sperry Rail Service detector car. Those cars were originally powered by Winton engines developed way back in the 1920's, but the entire concept is being discarded infavor of Hy-Railer straight trucks.
I've heard of shutting down bigger power in isolated areas when it's known it wouldn't be used for at least a wekend, but sometimes auxillary power had to be used to keep the block relatively warm in cold weather.
If someone experienced in "engine sevice", cuch as Mr "ditchlights" would have someting to add on this, it would be welcomed.
So you are saying that a diesel engine should be left idling 23 hours per day, rather than shut it off?
while idle no-load condition for 24hrs induces it's only problems I would ask how do you know it's at idle? do you understand the many loco engines and all stationary power diesels are a constant speed machines? A loco engine even at rest may indeed be doing work, power to the train, air for brakes all must be provided. I seen loco engines set in a mine and used as a power provider for the mine....They don't have to be pulling 100 cars to be working...Yes it's easier to see that work but a train at rest is working never the less.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
