USA: A one-year test using biofuel derived from beef-fat to power an Amtrak locomotive found no added engine wear or loss of reliability, and an improvement in exhaust emissions.
The 20-year-old GE P32-8 locomotive’s 12-cylinder, 3 200 hp engine ran on a B20 blend of 20% beef fat biofuel and 80% diesel when operating the daily Heartland Flyer linking Oklahoma City with Fort Worth.
The research was funded by the Federal Railroad Administration and Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
USA: On December 1 Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced two more grants totalling $766 562 to continue research into the use of cleaner fuels and lubricants in the rail sector, as part of a programme aimed at reducing national dependence on fossil fuels. 'We are committed to reducing our carbon ...
CANADA: A five-month trial of biodiesel is being undertaken in what Canadian Pacific says is its first use with locomotives operating in the cold Canadian climate. Four GE Transportation AC4400 locomotives in dedicated service between Calgary and Edmonton are using a 5% biodiesel blend from November until the end ...
BRAZIL: Mining group Vale has announced plans to become self-sufficient in the production of B20 biodiesel for its locomotives, which since 2007 have run on a B20 mix of 20% palm oil and 80% ordinary diesel. On June 24 Vale announced details of a consortium with Biopalma da ...
