How far can Locomotives go on a tank of Fuel ?
~ Tim .
To see photos of my HO scale / 1/64 scale layout and diorama photos base in the present day . http://www.flickr.com/photos/icr140/
How big is the tank? What kind of terrain is being traversed? How much tonnage is being handled? How fast is the train expected to run?
All have a effect on fuel consumption.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I think the questioner may be looking for something similar to the EPA estimate mileages like you see on a new car sticker, you know, "25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway." I can't help him with this one.
I'm just trying find how far on average a Freight train could go with between fueling ?
As others have posted, there are a number of variables here. And there is no silly 'hwy/city' sticker on a new locomotive. Here are some things to consider:
If an engine is running 'all out' in RUN 8 for hours, with only crew change service stops every 3-4 hours, we can get a typical fuel consumption number.
IIRC, an SD40-2 consumes about 195 gallons/hour in RUN 8. With a typical 4000 gallon fuel tank, you will go for about 20+ hours before exhausting the fuel supply. If the train is moving at 50 mph, you are looking at about 1000 miles
Now, the reality is that the train is not always in RUN 8(speed restrictions through towns, curves, & bridges), and will be stopping for crew changes - so maybe you will be able to go 24 hours. As you can see, there are just too many variables. Modern GE 'GEVO' and EMD SD70ACe engines typically have even larger fuel tanks(5000 gallons) and an even bigger fuel consumption rate.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier As others have posted, there are a number of variables here. And there is no silly 'hwy/city' sticker on a new locomotive. Here are some things to consider: Fuel per hour - Since a diesel-electric is basically a small power plant on wheels that is feeing electric motors, this might be a better measurement. Size of fuel tank - anywhere from 2600 gallons to 5000 gallons are typical capacities. If an engine is running 'all out' in RUN 8 for hours, with only crew change service stops every 3-4 hours, we can get a typical fuel consumption number. IIRC, an SD40-2 consumes about 195 gallons/hour in RUN 8. With a typical 4000 gallon fuel tank, you will go for about 20+ hours before exhausting the fuel supply. If the train is moving at 50 mph, you are looking at about 1000 miles Now, the reality is that the train is not always in RUN 8(speed restrictions through towns, curves, & bridges), and will be stopping for crew changes - so maybe you will be able to go 24 hours. As you can see, there are just too many variables. Modern GE 'GEVO' and EMD SD70ACe engines typically have even larger fuel tanks(5000 gallons) and an even bigger fuel consumption rate. Jim
And you can add to the mix the conservation rule for at least the Union Pacific railroad. I hear the engineer calling the dispatcher asking if they can skip the conservation and use run 7 and 8. Z trains get the OK but others do not at least in the Valley line in California. I am not sure how this works over Donner pass as it would seem they would have to use run 8 to get over the Hill.
CZ
CZ,
I found my fuel comsumption chart - It is on Al Krug's web site:
http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/fueluse.htm
A SD40-2 consumes about 165 gallons/hour in RUN 8. As far as not running in RUN 7 or 8 - A few years ago a friends husband who is a BNSF engineer mentioned that they were talking about handing out Kwik Trip gas cards to engineers who practiced the best fuel savings! He also mentioned that when running the new engines with the telemetry, he would get a call from the power desk if he was doing too much power breaking as well.
jrbernier CZ, I found my fuel comsumption chart - It is on Al Krug's web site: http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/fueluse.htm A SD40-2 consumes about 165 gallons/hour in RUN 8. As far as not running in RUN 7 or 8 - A few years ago a friends husband who is a BNSF engineer mentioned that they were talking about handing out Kwik Trip gas cards to engineers who practiced the best fuel savings! He also mentioned that when running the new engines with the telemetry, he would get a call from the power desk if he was doing too much power breaking as well. Jim
Thanks for listing that link. It is interesting BNSF might have rewarded engineers for their conservation.
It will be an interesting contrast to find out much fuel the new GEVO's are using especially the 12 cylinder version that they are using now. The GE's listed are fairly old.
A number of years ago CSX had a system wide restriction of 40 MPH on coal trains in the name of fuel conservation. On a particular territory the local division personnel disagreed with the restriction and were able to get the system to do a controlled test over the territory with the maximum speed for coal trains being raised to 50 MPH. The results of the test for this particular territory showed the higher speed saved 200 gallons per unit over the territory. The speed restriction on coal trains over this territory got changed.
The territory involved was undulating, with many up and down transitions. With the 40 MPH limit, trains had to brake on the down grades and then did not have the momentum of the train to assist climbing the next upgrade. With the 50 MPH limit trains did not have to brake on the downgrade and had the use of the trains downgrade momentum to climb the next rise - in some cases not even having to apply power to get the train over the next rise.
In days of yore, the rule of thumb for the F7's & GP9's was that the consumed 2 gallons per mile. The current GEVO's are 'thumbed' at 4 gallons to the mile. The GEVO AC's can handle the tonnage of nearly 4 of the earlier engines.
CAZEPHYR jrbernier As others have posted, there are a number of variables here. And there is no silly 'hwy/city' sticker on a new locomotive. Here are some things to consider: Fuel per hour - Since a diesel-electric is basically a small power plant on wheels that is feeing electric motors, this might be a better measurement. Size of fuel tank - anywhere from 2600 gallons to 5000 gallons are typical capacities. If an engine is running 'all out' in RUN 8 for hours, with only crew change service stops every 3-4 hours, we can get a typical fuel consumption number. IIRC, an SD40-2 consumes about 195 gallons/hour in RUN 8. With a typical 4000 gallon fuel tank, you will go for about 20+ hours before exhausting the fuel supply. If the train is moving at 50 mph, you are looking at about 1000 miles Now, the reality is that the train is not always in RUN 8(speed restrictions through towns, curves, & bridges), and will be stopping for crew changes - so maybe you will be able to go 24 hours. As you can see, there are just too many variables. Modern GE 'GEVO' and EMD SD70ACe engines typically have even larger fuel tanks(5000 gallons) and an even bigger fuel consumption rate. Jim Jim And you can add to the mix the conservation rule for at least the Union Pacific railroad. I hear the engineer calling the dispatcher asking if they can skip the conservation and use run 7 and 8. Z trains get the OK but others do not at least in the Valley line in California. I am not sure how this works over Donner pass as it would seem they would have to use run 8 to get over the Hill. CZ
The UP conservation rule is that freight trains can't be in a throttle notch higher than five when exceeding 50 mph. Unit coal trains, loaded or empty, are restricted to notch 5 and 40 mph unless the 5/50 combo is authorized by subdivision special instructions.
Unless relieved of the rule, you can use all the throttle positions until you hit 50/40 then must notch down if higher than 5.
UP also has a fuel bonus program, called "fuel masters." It also includes train dispatchers because they can have a lot of influence on fuel usage.
Jeff
caballorr How far can Locomotives go on a tank of Fuel ?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Burn rates, on level ground gallons per hour.
Notch C44AC SD70ACE
8 210 187
7 171 164
6 140 133
5 109 86
4 79 64
3 53 47
2 27 23
1 12 12
Idle 3 3
DB2 4 4
DB4 6 6
DB6 8 9
DB8 13 14
Someone once commented on the Passenger Trains Forum that Amtrak locomotives have a digital readout on the side of the fuel tank, and this readout could give information on how much fuel a train uses on a particular route segment. That is, view the readout, board the train to ride it someplace, get off the train, and view the readout again.
OK, OK, in today's paranoid climate, maybe walking over to the locomotive to view that display will bring you "to the attention of the authorities." So then, maybe if there are any Amtrak conductors or train crew members on this forum, such crew members could make known such information?
For example, some Amtrak corridor trains run with one Genesis locomotive and an NPCC (non-powered cab-car, a converted F40PH) at the other end. Others run with a Genesis at each end. Does having two running locomotives increase the fuel use? Maybe there are some Amtrak corridor trains with just one locomotive and a string of Amfleet coaches. Does that use less fuel than having the heavy, boxy NPCC in the consist? Also, is the fuel use greater on a cold winter day when there is a heavy HEP demand to run the electric heat?
All this presupposes that Amtrak locomotives have that digital fuel gauge visible from platform level. Maybe the person who posted that was wrong? No one here seems to know one way or the other if that fuel gauge exists?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
jeffhergert Burn rates, on level ground gallons per hour. Notch C44AC SD70ACE 8 210 187 7 171 164 6 140 133 5 109 86 4 79 64 3 53 47 2 27 23 1 12 12 Idle 3 3 DB2 4 4 DB4 6 6 DB6 8 9 DB8 13 14 Jeff
Thanks for the listing. The C44AC is the older 16 cylinder version, right? It seems to be identical to the Dash 9 listing which is probably true since it uses the same motor.
Anyone know the burn rate for the new Gevo which should be in direct comparison to the SD70Ace? Both the new Gevo and the SD70Ace are the latest models in production now.
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