Over the last five years, an important trend in the U.S. freight
railroad industry has been the introduction of "GenSet" locomotives
to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. While a proven
technology, widespread use of GenSet locomotives has been slow due
to high capital costs compared to the older-technology locomotives
that they would replace. A new GenSet locomotive is
approximately six times more expensive than the cost of a
traditional diesel locomotive in rebuilt condition.
What is a GenSet?
GenSet technology (short for "Generator Set" or sets of engines
turning a generator) replaces the large diesel engine and generator
found in almost all existing freight locomotives with two or three
much smaller diesel engines and generators. These smaller engines
are similar to large off-road diesel engines and are EPA Tier III
off-road / Tier II railroad compliant. Advanced computer technology
allows for precise control of the engines, starting and stopping
only as their power is needed.
While the outward appearance of the GenSet is similar to existing,
older-technology locomotives, fuel consumption and exhaust
emissions are significantly reduced by using smaller engines only
when needed.
Environmental benefits of GenSets include:
- Fuel savings of more than 20%, compared to existing diesel
locomotive technology in side-by-side use, have been
demonstrated.
- Compared to a traditional locomotive in the same application,
GenSet units have been shown to reduce NOx by 58%, HC by 94%, CO by
37% and PM by 80%.
GWI GenSet
Program
By utilizing off-the-shelf components in kit form and its own
workforce, GWI is completely rebuilding older yard locomotives into
“new” GenSet locomotives. These rebuilt units are 30%-40% less
expensive than a newly purchased GenSet locomotive.
The GWI in-house rebuild program reduces the cost of a GenSet
locomotive to the point that a public–private partnership becomes
an economically viable means to introduce this technology to its
short line freight railroads.
GWI’s Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) participated
in the 2007 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
Improvement Program administered by the Southwest Pennsylvania
Commission (SPC) and the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation. BPRR proposed a project to rebuild two yard
locomotives into GenSet units, utilizing the workforce at the BPRR
locomotive shops in western Pennsylvania.
Recognizing the public benefits provided by GenSet locomotives, SPC
selected the BPRR project for funding at an 80%-20%
government–railroad match. The two GenSets will replace two
existing yard locomotives built in the 1960s and will operate in an
area of Pennsylvania that does not currently meet air quality
standards. The engines being used in the GWI GenSets are recognized
by the California Air Resources Board and U.S. EPA as Ultra Low
Emissions Locomotive (ULEL) technology.
The first of the new BPRR GenSets was commissioned in Butler, Pa.,
on July 12, 2010. Work is nearing completion on the second BPRR
GenSet and on the first GenSet for the Ohio Central Railroad, as
well.