About Bernard Markowicz Expertise Expertise in large and complex operations management problems, operations improvement, real-time network management, equipment management and distribution, information systems design, rail operations.
Experience Former director with major rail company, and long-time consultant.
Expert: Bernard Markowicz Date: 10/25/2006 Subject: FUEL
Question ARE THERE ENERGY SAVING METHODS BEING DONE FOR THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY WHICH WILL CONSERVE FUEL COST
Answer Railroads are very energy efficient to begin with - they are like hybrid cars of today and they are very fuel efficient. Diesel engines use fuel injection and the latest computer technology to manage fuel consumption. Computer control is used to manage friction at low speeds. There have been experiments with using oil and grease in tight turns to reduce friction and improve fuel efficiency. Several locomotives are hooked together and computers manage how they work together to provide the optimal combination of power and speed.
There have been attempts to develop modern coal locomotives that would use very fine coal powder mixtures but these locomotives would not be very good for the environment.
Purely electric freight locomotives are not feasibles in the United States or in other countries with long distances between cities so I would say we have a very efficient diesel-electric system today.
