Eastern Railroad Discussion > A coal hauling RR joins the move to natural gas

Norfolk Southern launches $53-million energy innovation project at Juniata Locomotive Shop ALTOONA, Pa., March 27, 2015 --

Norfolk Southern today launched a $53-million energy conversion project at its Juniata Locomotive Shop
that will substantially reduce carbon emissions and water usage at the 70-acre
facility. 

Norfolk Southern will replace the shop’s coal boilers with natural gas heaters and install a 1.2-megawatt capacity combined heat and power
generator that will produce enough electricity to sustain the entire 16-building
complex. When completed in late 2017, Norfolk Southern expects the improvements
to save about $4 million in electricity costs, reduce water usage by 49.4
million gallons from steam-water recovery, and eliminate more than 29,000 tons
of carbon emissions in Pennsylvania on an annual basis. The project goes beyond
equipment changes to include adding insulation, energy-efficient windows at key
locations, high-speed roll-up doors on locomotive bays, and replacing roofing to
ensure the full sustainability benefits of the investment are
realized. 

The project follows a comprehensive review of work demands and energy consumption at Juniata, the largest locomotive repair shop in North
America and headquarters for Norfolk Southern’s locomotive rebuild program. The
facility has about 1,050 employees who specialize in heavy repairs and engine
overhauls.  

“This project showcases Norfolk Southern’s commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said CEO Wick Moorman. “The Juniata Locomotive
Shop has a 125-year legacy of leading the rail industry in locomotive
technology, and with our energy conversion project, this shop and its employees
will remain an industry frontrunner in the 21st century.” 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/15 14:59 by calumet.

what does that say to the coal producers that the raiload since it's inception relyed on for coal to fuel it's locomotives and #1 source of revenue for decades ...

Posted from Android

Well it says to me that while there are many quite good uses for coal, heating a building with it in the 21st century isn't really one of them.

Posted from Android

junctiontower Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well it says to me that while there are many quite
> good uses for coal, heating a building with it in
> the 21st century isn't really one of them.
>
> Posted from Android

Posted from iPhone

It's likely NS will be burning natural gas mined in Pennsylvania.  From wells which probably had pipe and equipment hauled to the region by NS.

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what does that say to the coal producers that the
> raiload since it's inception relyed on for coal to
> fuel it's locomotives and #1 source of revenue for
> decades ...
>
> Posted from Android

That ship already sailed when N & W, Virginian, Pennsylvania Railroad, The Reading Company and other NS predecessors replaced coal-burning steam engines with diesel-electric locomotives.

The investment will pay itself off in ~12 years or so; NS likely has a contract in place for NG that will shield it from increased rates if that were to happen.  Good business.