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.
In 2010, GWI's
Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) commissioned GenSet
locomotives 1400 and 1401, built via public-private partnership
with the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In early 2011, GWI's
Ohio Central Railroad (OHCR) commissioned GenSet locomotive
1402, built via public-private partnership with Ohio Rail
Development Commission, Ohio Department of Development and the U.S.
Department of Transportation.
Even with public funding that recognizes the environmental
benefits to the local area, the projects would not have been
possible without the technical capabilities and ingenuity of the
railroad employees who took previously retired, 1950's-vintage
locomotives down to their frames and transformed them into
state-of-art GenSets in their own locomotive shops in Brookville,
Pennsylvania and Morgan Run, Ohio.