Abstract: This article describes the manner in which various U.S. railroad companies are coping with rising fuel costs, which rose an average of forty percent between 2005 and 2006. Plans listed range from the strategic use of Global Positioning System (GPS) to increasing the use of rail grinding techniques in order to reduce friction. Wireless technologies are also being used for purposes such as monitoring fuel consumption through GPS, real-time monitoring, and Internet download availability of the data. Fuel probes, or Locomotive Monitoring Units (LMU), measure the locomotive’s rate of consumption. Another tactic is to use an electric-powered block heater for use in idling locomotives. More expensive options include newer locomotives themselves, which are following the automotive industry in improving fuel consumption of locomotive engines.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
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