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[quote user="CrazyDiamond"]Eventually many lines in North America will have no choice but to go to electrics. As the world runs out of 'easy to get' fuel, fuel costs will continue to rise. As the world develops lower cost solar, wind, hydro, tidal generation, the RRs will financially forced to convert from diesel to electric grid. The risk is, since we are so short-term focused, and do not believe in long term investment we risk waiting too long, then it will be too late in the sense that the costs to convert will be even more expensive, and our overseas competitors will already be enjoying an electric system that has already paid for itself many times over. When my son starts school it won't be French langauge he will be learning as a second language, I will be getting him taught Chinese....because 20 years from now China will rule the world and or economy will be broken. They will be driving the energy efficient hybrids and we will be riding the bicycles. Our cheap energy ride is over and the 'harsh reality' is just starting to begin. This is why USA and Canada are resisiting Kyoto Protocol. We believe it will cost us too much money money to convert from a fossil fuel driven economy to one that uses less fossil fuel. Other nations aroudn the world have already completed their obligations becase they were already less dependant on fossil fuels then we are.[/quote] Hi guys.Maybe you're right and railroads will have to go to electrics - in the long term. But my bet for the short term is this: spot electrification and dual (maybe converted) locomotives.Spot electrification would be done in places where most trains go full throttle or full dynamic brakes (such as steep grades or yard/station approaches). Line voltage would be handled directly by locomotive inverters (3.0 - 4.0 kV DC maybe) thus no heavy on board equipment required.Conversion would only be possible for AC locomotives beacuse standard DC locomotives may not work as direct electrics. At least, a pantograph, a DC filter, a circuit breaker, extra wiring and complete re-programing of locomotive computers would be needed.But it would be cheaper and easier than full electrification.Is it feasible? I don't know.  Cheers.
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