Idle Reduction Technology
Tacoma Rail has installed idle reduction technologies on four of its 18 locomotives. Idle reduction lowers our fuel costs and reduced emissions considerably. These technologies work by actively managing the idle time of the locomotives in a way that can't be done manually. Idle reduction also extends the life of the locomotive by shutting the locomotive down to a ready-use state.
In May 2007, Tacoma Rail equipped four locomotives (two GP38-2s and two GP40-2s) with idle reduction technology from Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Company and ZTR Control Systems. Now, instead of idling the 2000 hp GP38-2s and 3000 hp GP40-2s, they are shut down when not in use. The Hotstart Diesel Driven Heating System (DDHS) uses a small 27 hp diesel engine to keep the locomotive engine above 100 degrees F and to charge the batteries so the locomotive can be easily restarted.
The ZTR SmartStart system automatically shuts down and restarts the Hotstart system and the locomotive as necessary. SmartStart also records data and provides detailed fuel savings reports. The Hotstart-SmartStart combination has proven to reduce idling by as much as 90 percent, which in turn has reduced locomotive engine wear, fuel consumption, emissions and noise.
Over five years, the four locomotives with the DDHS should:
- Save 400,000 gallons of diesel fuel
- Reduce fine particular matter by 3 tons
- Reduce nitrogen oxides by 140 tons
- Reduce carbon monoxide by 15 tons
GenSet Locomotives
Tacoma Rail tested two demonstrator units, each for two weeks. The technology that makes these locomotives unique is the use of multiple engine GenSets. The first locomotive used by Tacoma Rail had two GenSets, each having 700 hp, for a total of 1,400 hp. The second had three Gensets. These locomotives only use the muscle they need to do the job at hand, similar to the cylinder deactivation technology now used in some automobiles. However, instead of cylinders deactivating, it starts up and shuts down the engine GenSets. For example, when Tacoma Rail used it to pull a mile and a half long intermodal train, it used both GenSets and pulled the train successfully. When doing small yard switching activities, it would only use the single GenSet.
Another advantage that some of these locomotives have is the advanced wheel slip control. This allows for the optimum tractional effort to be applied to the rail.
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
Tacoma Rail converted to ultra low sulfur diesel in June 2006. It is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be in use for all locomotives in 2012. By moving to ultra low sulfur diesel, sulfur content has been reduced from 500 parts per million (ppm) to a maximum of 15 ppm.
Eco-tip super-stack fuel injectors
In November 2005, Tacoma Rail installed eco-tip super-stack fuel injectors on all 18 of our locomotives.
Stats about fuel injectors:
• 3 percent fuel savings at full load
• 44 percent reduction in particulate matter
• 75 percent reduction in smoke opacity