BNSF to test liquefied natural gas in road locomotives
2013-03-06
BNSF will begin testing a small number of locomotives using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel later this year, as will be announced by Matthew K. Rose, BNSF chairman and CEO at the CERAWeek conference on March 6.
"The use of liquefied natural gas as an alternative fuel is a potential transformational change for our railroad and for our industry," said Rose. "While there are daunting technical and regulatory challenges still to be faced, this pilot project is an important first step that will allow BNSF to evaluate the technical and economic viability of the use of liquefied natural gas in through-freight service, potentially reducing fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby providing environmental and energy security benefits to our nation."
BNSF has been working with the two principal locomotive manufacturers, GE and EMD, a unit of Caterpillar, to develop the natural gas engine technology that will be used in the pilot.
The use of natural gas as a transportation fuel results in the emission of fewer greenhouse gases and particulates than diesel fuel.
The idea of using natural gas as fuel in locomotives is not new. The former Burlington Northern used natural gas locomotives in the 1980s and 1990s. BNSF also tested LNG switch locomotives in Los Angeles until they reached the end of their useful life a few years ago.
Improved economics and technology make the use of natural gas in long-haul service more operationally feasible today. The BNSF pilot will be a first step to consider how the technology could be implemented. However, even though natural gas in long-haul service has enormous potential, several significant regulatory challenges need to be addressed.
"The changed market for natural gas in the United States is a critical part of our decision to explore it as a locomotive fuel and in this pilot we will test natural gas engine technology in railroad service," Rose added. "We will be working with the equipment manufacturers, the various regulatory agencies and government officials to address the necessary actions to accomplish this."
About the photo: The former Burlington Northern used natural gas locomotives in the 1980s and 1990s
BNSF Testing Switch to Natural Gas
Brooke Self
BNSF Railway Co. will test liquefied natural gas in a small number of its locomotives later this year.
"The use of liquefied natural gas as an alternative fuel is a potential transformational change for our railroad and for our industry," BNSF chairman and CEO Matthew Rose stated in a news release announcing the tests.
The company is working with a unit of Caterpillar and General Electric to manufacture locomotives that run on both diesel and natural gas, according to the release. The pilot project will allow BNSF to evaluate the technical and economic viability of the use of LNG in its freight service.
The move could also reduce fuel costs and greenhouse emissions. The retail price of a gallon of diesel fuel costs $3.91, while an equivalent amount of energy in natural gas cost 48 cents, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.
However, fuel savings don't reflect the additional costs the company will need to pay to cool the natural gas into a dense liquid, or the investment costs to retrofit even a small number of the company's 6,900 locomotives.
David Rosse, a retired BNSF locomotive fireman and engineer of 44 years from Barstow, said he believes the test locomotives will probably run through Barstow. He thinks the switch to liquefied natural gas would be inefficient based on observations he has made of LNG-fueled buses.
However, he said he doesn't know the exact details of the company's plans.
"With LNG you lose power and mileage," he said. "That's just the way it burns."
Rosse said LNG is also "very flammable." He said he thinks a switch to waste vegetable oil -- used by the Grand Canyon Railway Company -- would be smarter.
"Vegetable oil burns clean; and the firebox and fuels are all clean. You won't get soot and stuff in the engine," he said.
According to Rosse, the BNSF's new plans make sense given the Environmental Protection Agency's recent tightening of air pollution and emissions regulations.
The BNSF railway network is one of the leading freight carriers in the country, spanning 32,500 miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces, according to the company's website.
Lena Kent, a BNSF spokeswoman, said testing locations have not been determined and the company is still working through technical and regulatory issues.
