Western Railroad Discussion > Diesel locomotives more polluting than thought

Attention to Locomotives' Emissions Renewed

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 14, 2006; Page A06

For years, government scientists who measure air pollution assumed that diesel locomotive engines were relatively clean and emitted far less health-threatening emissions than diesel trucks or other vehicles.

But not long ago, those scientists made a startling discovery: Because they had used faulty estimates of the amount of fuel consumed by diesel trains, they grossly understated the amount of pollution generated annually. After revising their calculations, they concluded that the annual emissions of nitrogen oxide, a key ingredient in smog, and fine particulate matter, or soot, would be by 2030 nearly twice what they originally assumed.

Whole story (registration may be required):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/13/AR2006081300530.html

Shocked, I'm Shocked !!! Now I know what those black plumes were that I see on TO--diesel particulates. Who woulda thunk it !

Does this mean that we will see the development of NG powered steam trains?

CPRR Wrote:
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> Does this mean that we will see the development of
> NG powered steam trains?

That's good! We can wish.

No. It means that the UP will develope a hood to fit over all the engines sitting, idling, in Roseville yard to capture the pollutants.

jb

I didn't read the report, but does it take into account that it takes many more trucks and fuel to move the same amount of merchandise? Seems to me that railroads are still more efficient and pollute far less when you look at it that way.

Those "government scientists" are good!

lowwater Wrote:
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> For years, government scientists who measure air
> pollution assumed that diesel locomotive engines
> were relatively clean and emitted far less
> health-threatening emissions than diesel trucks or
> other vehicles.
>
> But not long ago, those scientists made a
> startling discovery: Because they had used faulty
> estimates of the amount of fuel consumed by diesel
> trains, they grossly understated the amount of
> pollution generated annually.

jdb Wrote:
> No. It means that the UP will develope a hood to
> fit over all the engines sitting, idling, in
> Roseville yard to capture the pollutants.
>

They showed a demo (at Roseville) of such a system on the local news about a week ago. What they showed (for 5 seconds) was a long metal duct suspended from a tower, with a boot that fit over the exhaust stack.

I posted some information on locomotive pollution last year. Here is the link to that thread...

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1032845,1032845#msg-1032845

WR-44 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I posted some information on locomotive pollution
> last year. Here is the link to that thread...
>
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1
> 032845,1032845#msg-1032845


Thats what they get for not using water scrubbers!!!!!!!

It hardly matters whether locos are better n trucks or vice versa. Particulates are dangerous, from whatever the source. Every form of transport needs to clean up their act.

Bowknot Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
<snip>
> They showed a demo (at Roseville) of such a system
> on the local news about a week ago. What they
> showed (for 5 seconds) was a long metal duct
> suspended from a tower, with a boot that fit over
> the exhaust stack.

And you guys thought the *pole lines* you always complain about were bad for your photos... <G>
-Wes

It just shows that "scientific research" is almost always never correct the first time the findings are published, and after "more study" the results are different. At one time or another, everything we eat or drink today was going to kill us yesterday.

What a poorly written news story. No identification of the "scientists" just a quote from an environmental group.

I do not believe that the contents of locomotive exhaust are much of a mystery. These guys regularly test the contents of rail locomotive exhaust in operation:

http://cafee.wvu.edu/visitor_index.php

Does it really matter think about it. We can't just back up time and go back to pulling everything by horse carriage.