Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68 There are a couple of technologies in development that may replace the diesel. One is fuel cells, still in it's infancy for such large applications, but certainly a possibility. The need to haul large amounts of hydrogen around is a consideration, however. It makes LP gas look positively safe. The other is the hybrids such as the green goat, although it's usefulness in long-haul situations hasn't been established yet - the generator needs opportunities to charge the batteries, and I don't think it's big enough to actually power the loco. I don't think you will see traditional steam emerge again. If steam does show up, it will probably be to drive a turbine and generate electricity.
QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98 QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68 I don't think you will see traditional steam emerge again. If steam does show up, it will probably be to drive a turbine and generate electricity. but the question is..... what fuel would you use to power it.... if you where going to burn oil..why get rid of the diesle engine in the first place... you just put a more complicated system in place of a simpler system... a steam turbine is a majorly complicated unit comparired to a diesel engine...and then you got the down time of how long it would take to get the engin "up to steam" when it is started...also the added down time of adding water to the boilers... even if you uses a closed system such as they use on subs... the powerplanet would be massive..and the locomotive would be to big for use on the rail system as we have it today..... and as for coal agin...it goes back to the EPA restrictions on engin emistions... csx engineer
QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68 I don't think you will see traditional steam emerge again. If steam does show up, it will probably be to drive a turbine and generate electricity.
QUOTE: Originally posted by tomtrain One place where they are working on literally far-out energy sources is the U of Wisconsin. They're working on a fusion (not fission) reactor technology powered by heavy helium drawn from moon soil. No joke. A space shuttle load of canisters of this gas used with fusion reactors could provide the electricity needs of the US for a year!
QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98 i think when the fuel cell is profected...that might be the next genoration of power for a locomitives.. ... with the EPA putting more and more restrictions on engin emistions... its only a matter of time befor someone trys to put a fuel cell and a locomotive together... i dont see the rail roads running out to string cattanary over thier main lines also... the cost would be astromoical... the cost to build the powerplants to make the power... cost to buy or convert locomotives over to electric only power... and just the cost of putting up the wires and suport structers and fusilitys would we way out of the rail roads bugets...now if the governement where to foot the bill..it might be differnt...but that will also never happen steam is gone for good.... csx engineer
QUOTE: Originally posted by tomtrain CSX, Here is a link to Harrison Schmitt's bio which then links to info about UW's Fusion Technology Institute and related links. http://www.engr.wisc.edu/ep/faculty/schmitt_harrison.html#affils This portal can lead to far better answers to your questions than I could provide. tomtrain