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Can an old, restored steam locomotive be the harbinger for a newera in cleaner train travel? That's what a Minnesota based collaboration between the Universityof Minnesota's Institute on the Environment (IonE) and thenonprofit Sustainable Rail International (SRI) are betting on,unveiling plans via their new Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) for a biofuel powered, carbon-neutral locomotive. While it could be argued high speed rail (HSR) is a cleaner option for trains versus one making use of biofuels,a combination of prohibitive costs and infrastructure challengesmake HSR domestically a not always favorable option. Also, in manyparts of the developing world, HSR, for the same reasons, will alsonever be a reality. That leaves the need for more regular, cleanerburning locomotives to take to the tracks. The CSR plan calls for making use of torrefied biomass (biocoal), abiofuel created through "an energy-efficient processing"of cellulosic biomass, as the fuel source. Biocoal is described bythe groups behind this as effectively being carbon neutral –compared to regular coal anyhow – as well as containing noheavy metals and producing less ash, smoke and volatile off-gases. CSR Project 130, as it is called, has the goal of creating not onlythe world's cleanest locomotive to prove the viability of solidbiofuel and modern steam locomotive technology, but also the mostpowerful, especially when compared to the diesel electrics commonlyin use today. The vision for the technology being developed in this process is tohelp build a locomotive that can reach speeds of 130 miles perhour, breaking the world record for steam locomotive speed, which iscurrently 126 MPH. So exactly how would it outperform these more "modern"diesel electrics, while also setting a new world speed record? CSR spells it out , noting that diesel-electric passenger locomotives develop maximumhorsepower at low speed which, when combined with other factors,are hampered in their "ability to reach full potential at 110or 125 mph." By comparison, modern steam technology is said to develop and"maintain maximum horsepower above 40 mph, enabling higherspeed acceleration than alternatives available today." What'smore, they say, is that this faster acceleration, making use oftheir steam engine technology, reportedly can be done "at orbelow the cost of the diesel-electrics" currently in use. The locomotive being called upon to help prove all of this is old number 3463 , acquired by the coalition from its former owner, Great Overland Station in Topeka, Kansas, this past November. Said to be the largest locomotive of its type left in the world andfeaturing the largest wheels of any North American engine, 3463 isbeing rebuilt and modernized, including converting it to burnbiocoal. It will feature what CSR says are a"gas-producer combustion system, improved steam circuit,modernized boiler, low-maintenance running gear and steam-poweredelectric generator (to power the passenger train)." It is a lot to place on the shoulders of an old lady from anotherera, especially when you consider this train was built by BaldwinLocomotive Works in 1937 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa FeRailroad. If it succeeds though, CSR folk feel, it could be a majorbreakthrough for modern train technology. "This project presents a novel approach to U.S. locomotivedevelopment, looking to technologies of the past to inspiresolutions for today's sustainability challenges," said SRIPresident Davidson Ward, in a statement. "I'm confident thatthe leading energy researchers we're working with at the Universityof Minnesota, along with our team of engineers, will be able tobring this technology to the forefront of America's energy andtransportation conversations." Plans, say CSR , are to transport the locomotive to Minneapolis within the next 12months. Once moved, they will complete the detailed engineeringneeded to modernize and reconfigure the locomotive. * Nino Marchetti, EarthTechling. I am an expert from sportssiliconebracelets.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Silly Rubber Band Manufacturer , China Silicone Pendants, Sports Silicone Bracelets,and more.
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