Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

[oltmannd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Krug

They were supposed to run in pairs with a cyrogenic tank car as a fuel tender. They would have about a 700 mile range with the tender and BN would have refueling stations placed accordingly on the system. As one might expect, the capital investment was significant. However with the $3.00 per gallon diesel fuel, the LNG might become viable again.

The nat'l gas project was supposed to work because of the differential between the price of gas and diesel at the time. That price diff. evaporated (ooh, pun, maybe) as more and more power plants were converted or build for gas (lower emissions, greenhouse gasses). Since they are predicting nat'l gas shortage this winter, I kinda doubt there will be a price differenial.

A bunch of us from Conrail visisted Air Products in Allentown PA concening LNG tank cars, fueling and engine conversion. Interesting, and somewhat scary, stuff!

[John Krug]

They were supposed to run in pairs with a cyrogenic tank car as a fuel tender. They would have about a 700 mile range with the tender and BN would have refueling stations placed accordingly on the system. As one might expect, the capital investment was significant. However with the $3.00 per gallon diesel fuel, the LNG might become viable again.

[nanaimo73]

BN had SD40-2 7890 set up to run on either diesel or liquid methane.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=154546

7890 had a paint scheme like this-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=10279



BN also had GP9s 1965 and 1961 burning natural gas in the early 1980s.

[CShaveRR]

There were four LNG switchers built for service around Los Angeles--two operated by UP, and two by ATSF. UP gave up on the idea years ago, and returned the switchers to the manufacturer. More recently, these two were acquired by BNSF and placed back in service.

[csxengineer98]

BN did something with this idea some years ago... they had a locomotive set up to run on LNG..but from what i understand...the results where marginal savings in fuel costs so i do belive the project was dropped.....
csx engineer

[Tulyar15]

Sometime ago I read that some railroads in California where using LNG to run their diesels on, partly due to the new emissions regulations in that state. Does anyone know if the railroads concerned are still using LNG? A number of bus companies in Britain are also experimenting with it.