Comments on: New Diesel GenSet Locomotive Cuts CO2 Emissions by 50% http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Fri, 25 May 2012 22:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jim Iubelt http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4173 Jim Iubelt Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:50:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4173 I come from a systems background (GE, USNR, ROCKWELL, etc.), and there is always a single failing to explain a host of discrepancies. In this case it is not AMTRAK or CSX or cars, or others to blame for pollution. The culprit was earlier mentioned, a lack of a national strategy for transportation. And in order to achieve a national transporation strategy, you must give up your right to "directly" cast a local (city, state) vote for what the strategy should be and how it gets implemented. What is good for the whole, is likely not good for the individual - is this socialistic? Until the strategy exists, there will be those who point a finger, and regardless of where it is pointing there will be guilt; but, also active players pursuing good. (Note: does AMTRAK move a greater percentage of population than the amount of the population being served by the goods and materials delivered by CSX? Don't forget that CSX is serving people just like AMTRAK, but in a different context. THE REAL ISSUE IS A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY; nothing less will do.) I come from a systems background (GE, USNR, ROCKWELL, etc.), and there is always a single failing to explain a host of discrepancies. In this case it is not AMTRAK or CSX or cars, or others to blame for pollution. The culprit was earlier mentioned, a lack of a national strategy for transportation. And in order to achieve a national transporation strategy, you must give up your right to “directly” cast a local (city, state) vote for what the strategy should be and how it gets implemented. What is good for the whole, is likely not good for the individual – is this socialistic? Until the strategy exists, there will be those who point a finger, and regardless of where it is pointing there will be guilt; but, also active players pursuing good. (Note: does AMTRAK move a greater percentage of population than the amount of the population being served by the goods and materials delivered by CSX? Don’t forget that CSX is serving people just like AMTRAK, but in a different context. THE REAL ISSUE IS A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY; nothing less will do.)

]]> By: Jim Iubelt http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20308 Jim Iubelt Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:50:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20308 I come from a systems background (GE, USNR, ROCKWELL, etc.), and there is always a single failing to explain a host of discrepancies. In this case it is not AMTRAK or CSX or cars, or others to blame for pollution. The culprit was earlier mentioned, a lack of a national strategy for transportation. And in order to achieve a national transporation strategy, you must give up your right to "directly" cast a local (city, state) vote for what the strategy should be and how it gets implemented. What is good for the whole, is likely not good for the individual - is this socialistic? Until the strategy exists, there will be those who point a finger, and regardless of where it is pointing there will be guilt; but, also active players pursuing good. (Note: does AMTRAK move a greater percentage of population than the amount of the population being served by the goods and materials delivered by CSX? Don't forget that CSX is serving people just like AMTRAK, but in a different context. THE REAL ISSUE IS A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY; nothing less will do.) I come from a systems background (GE, USNR, ROCKWELL, etc.), and there is always a single failing to explain a host of discrepancies. In this case it is not AMTRAK or CSX or cars, or others to blame for pollution. The culprit was earlier mentioned, a lack of a national strategy for transportation. And in order to achieve a national transporation strategy, you must give up your right to “directly” cast a local (city, state) vote for what the strategy should be and how it gets implemented. What is good for the whole, is likely not good for the individual – is this socialistic? Until the strategy exists, there will be those who point a finger, and regardless of where it is pointing there will be guilt; but, also active players pursuing good. (Note: does AMTRAK move a greater percentage of population than the amount of the population being served by the goods and materials delivered by CSX? Don’t forget that CSX is serving people just like AMTRAK, but in a different context. THE REAL ISSUE IS A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY; nothing less will do.)

]]> By: Mark Davis http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4172 Mark Davis Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:04:40 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4172 Timothy, I have had a couple of Union Pacific employees pass your article on to me regarding CSX's Genset locomotives. While technically the CSX units will be operated in Chicago, they will not be the first Genset in Chicago. A Chicago-based UP employee came-up with the concept of the Genset locomotive and tested a prototype in Chicago in late 2005 through early 2006. Most of the ordinal order of 60 Genset locomotives that would be used in California were broke-in in the Northlake area. Attached one of our recent Genset news releases with several background pieces, including a feature on the design of the Genset. http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/environment/2008/0328_chi-genset.shtml I hope this is helpful. Mark Davis Timothy,

I have had a couple of Union Pacific employees pass your article on to me regarding CSX’s Genset locomotives.

While technically the CSX units will be operated in Chicago, they will not be the first Genset in Chicago.

A Chicago-based UP employee came-up with the concept of the Genset locomotive and tested a prototype in Chicago in late 2005 through early 2006. Most of the ordinal order of 60 Genset locomotives that would be used in California were broke-in in the Northlake area.

Attached one of our recent Genset news releases with several background pieces, including a feature on the design of the Genset.

http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/environment/2008/0328_chi-genset.shtml

I hope this is helpful.

Mark Davis

]]> By: Mark Davis http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20307 Mark Davis Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:04:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20307 Timothy, I have had a couple of Union Pacific employees pass your article on to me regarding CSX's Genset locomotives. While technically the CSX units will be operated in Chicago, they will not be the first Genset in Chicago. A Chicago-based UP employee came-up with the concept of the Genset locomotive and tested a prototype in Chicago in late 2005 through early 2006. Most of the ordinal order of 60 Genset locomotives that would be used in California were broke-in in the Northlake area. Attached one of our recent Genset news releases with several background pieces, including a feature on the design of the Genset. http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/environment/2008/0328_chi-genset.shtml I hope this is helpful. Mark Davis Timothy,

I have had a couple of Union Pacific employees pass your article on to me regarding CSX’s Genset locomotives.

While technically the CSX units will be operated in Chicago, they will not be the first Genset in Chicago.

A Chicago-based UP employee came-up with the concept of the Genset locomotive and tested a prototype in Chicago in late 2005 through early 2006. Most of the ordinal order of 60 Genset locomotives that would be used in California were broke-in in the Northlake area.

Attached one of our recent Genset news releases with several background pieces, including a feature on the design of the Genset.

http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/environment/2008/0328_chi-genset.shtml

I hope this is helpful.

Mark Davis

]]> By: Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4171 Timothy B. Hurst Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:35:26 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4171 Yochi- Thanks for your comments. You hit the nail on the head in your first sentence: "The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast Corridor." I would argue that getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains needs much more than prioritizing passenger trains, it needs government prioritization, which means serious investment. As I'm sure you know, passenger rail is generally not a money-making venture, this includes Europe where the excellent rail system is also a heavily subsidized one. Freight trains slowing down passenger trains are not the cause of the problem, they are a symptom of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blindly backing CSX or the other big rail companies, I just think we should take a more holistic approach to analyzing our transportation infrastructure. Thoughts? Yochi-

Thanks for your comments. You hit the nail on the head in your first sentence: “The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast Corridor.”

I would argue that getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains needs much more than prioritizing passenger trains, it needs government prioritization, which means serious investment.

As I’m sure you know, passenger rail is generally not a money-making venture, this includes Europe where the excellent rail system is also a heavily subsidized one. Freight trains slowing down passenger trains are not the cause of the problem, they are a symptom of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blindly backing CSX or the other big rail companies, I just think we should take a more holistic approach to analyzing our transportation infrastructure.

Thoughts?

]]> By: Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20306 Timothy B. Hurst Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:35:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20306 Yochi- Thanks for your comments. You hit the nail on the head in your first sentence: "The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast Corridor." I would argue that getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains needs much more than prioritizing passenger trains, it needs government prioritization, which means serious investment. As I'm sure you know, passenger rail is generally not a money-making venture, this includes Europe where the excellent rail system is also a heavily subsidized one. Freight trains slowing down passenger trains are not the cause of the problem, they are a symptom of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blindly backing CSX or the other big rail companies, I just think we should take a more holistic approach to analyzing our transportation infrastructure. Thoughts? Yochi-

Thanks for your comments. You hit the nail on the head in your first sentence: “The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast Corridor.”

I would argue that getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains needs much more than prioritizing passenger trains, it needs government prioritization, which means serious investment.

As I’m sure you know, passenger rail is generally not a money-making venture, this includes Europe where the excellent rail system is also a heavily subsidized one. Freight trains slowing down passenger trains are not the cause of the problem, they are a symptom of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blindly backing CSX or the other big rail companies, I just think we should take a more holistic approach to analyzing our transportation infrastructure.

Thoughts?

]]> By: railster http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4170 railster Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:47:47 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4170 Tim -- The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast corridor, mostly where the Acela express trains run. The rest of the country is serviced on freight lines, which account for a horrible on-time rate for their trains. According to this article their on-time rate is 50% IL. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-amtrak-26-sep26,0,3195108.story Although this article does not cite CSX as a problem, I've been stuck behind a CSX freight train on Amtrak while traveling DC to Chicago before, and it's no fun. It's OK to cover the green work of industry, but you should also maintain your independent voice and criticize them for what they do wrong (and I encourage you to do it in the same post, not different ones). Freight companies lack of prioritization of passenger rail service is one the single biggest reasons Amtrak service stinks outside of the east coast. Getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains for inter-city trips would do way more for GHG reductions than a gas-saving switching locomotive at a CSX rail yard. I look forward to seeing your post on this topic. I'd be happy to help you research or do a guest-blog on this important clean-tech issue. Yochi Tim –

The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast corridor, mostly where the Acela express trains run. The rest of the country is serviced on freight lines, which account for a horrible on-time rate for their trains. According to this article their on-time rate is 50% IL. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-amtrak-26-sep26,0,3195108.story

Although this article does not cite CSX as a problem, I’ve been stuck behind a CSX freight train on Amtrak while traveling DC to Chicago before, and it’s no fun.

It’s OK to cover the green work of industry, but you should also maintain your independent voice and criticize them for what they do wrong (and I encourage you to do it in the same post, not different ones).

Freight companies lack of prioritization of passenger rail service is one the single biggest reasons Amtrak service stinks outside of the east coast. Getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains for inter-city trips would do way more for GHG reductions than a gas-saving switching locomotive at a CSX rail yard.

I look forward to seeing your post on this topic. I’d be happy to help you research or do a guest-blog on this important clean-tech issue.

Yochi

]]> By: railster http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20305 railster Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:47:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20305 Tim -- The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast corridor, mostly where the Acela express trains run. The rest of the country is serviced on freight lines, which account for a horrible on-time rate for their trains. According to this article their on-time rate is 50% IL. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-amtrak-26-sep26,0,3195108.story Although this article does not cite CSX as a problem, I've been stuck behind a CSX freight train on Amtrak while traveling DC to Chicago before, and it's no fun. It's OK to cover the green work of industry, but you should also maintain your independent voice and criticize them for what they do wrong (and I encourage you to do it in the same post, not different ones). Freight companies lack of prioritization of passenger rail service is one the single biggest reasons Amtrak service stinks outside of the east coast. Getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains for inter-city trips would do way more for GHG reductions than a gas-saving switching locomotive at a CSX rail yard. I look forward to seeing your post on this topic. I'd be happy to help you research or do a guest-blog on this important clean-tech issue. Yochi Tim –

The only track owned by Amtrak is the Northeast corridor, mostly where the Acela express trains run. The rest of the country is serviced on freight lines, which account for a horrible on-time rate for their trains. According to this article their on-time rate is 50% IL. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-amtrak-26-sep26,0,3195108.story

Although this article does not cite CSX as a problem, I’ve been stuck behind a CSX freight train on Amtrak while traveling DC to Chicago before, and it’s no fun.

It’s OK to cover the green work of industry, but you should also maintain your independent voice and criticize them for what they do wrong (and I encourage you to do it in the same post, not different ones).

Freight companies lack of prioritization of passenger rail service is one the single biggest reasons Amtrak service stinks outside of the east coast. Getting Americans out of their cars and taking trains for inter-city trips would do way more for GHG reductions than a gas-saving switching locomotive at a CSX rail yard.

I look forward to seeing your post on this topic. I’d be happy to help you research or do a guest-blog on this important clean-tech issue.

Yochi

]]> By: Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4169 Timothy B. Hurst Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:26:40 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4169 railster- I don't know much about CSX's relationships with passenger trains or their history with them, so thanks for your comment. I tried to steer away from the politics of rail for this particular piece, but perhaps I will do one for <a>Red, Green, and Blue</a> in the next couple weeks. Tom- Perhaps you misread, I didn't actually go along for a ride in the GenSet, though I did get the tour of the locomotive itself, so I couldn't tell you what it sounded like. But I can tell you it felt like steel. And thanks for your question about the operators; the GenSets can be operated in cab or operated via a remote. As far as using the "sleep mode" language, I figured since people would be reading this on their computer, they would know what I mean. The GenSet can be fired up quickly when it is in sleep mode, much like your computer, but for all intents and purposes, it is off while "sleeping." RD Jones- Perhaps you could elaborate on your comment, not being in the railroad industry, I'm not sure I follow your concerns. railster- I don’t know much about CSX’s relationships with passenger trains or their history with them, so thanks for your comment. I tried to steer away from the politics of rail for this particular piece, but perhaps I will do one for Red, Green, and Blue in the next couple weeks.

Tom- Perhaps you misread, I didn’t actually go along for a ride in the GenSet, though I did get the tour of the locomotive itself, so I couldn’t tell you what it sounded like. But I can tell you it felt like steel. And thanks for your question about the operators; the GenSets can be operated in cab or operated via a remote.

As far as using the “sleep mode” language, I figured since people would be reading this on their computer, they would know what I mean. The GenSet can be fired up quickly when it is in sleep mode, much like your computer, but for all intents and purposes, it is off while “sleeping.”

RD Jones- Perhaps you could elaborate on your comment, not being in the railroad industry, I’m not sure I follow your concerns.

]]> By: Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20304 Timothy B. Hurst Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:26:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20304 railster- I don't know much about CSX's relationships with passenger trains or their history with them, so thanks for your comment. I tried to steer away from the politics of rail for this particular piece, but perhaps I will do one for <a>Red, Green, and Blue</a> in the next couple weeks. Tom- Perhaps you misread, I didn't actually go along for a ride in the GenSet, though I did get the tour of the locomotive itself, so I couldn't tell you what it sounded like. But I can tell you it felt like steel. And thanks for your question about the operators; the GenSets can be operated in cab or operated via a remote. As far as using the "sleep mode" language, I figured since people would be reading this on their computer, they would know what I mean. The GenSet can be fired up quickly when it is in sleep mode, much like your computer, but for all intents and purposes, it is off while "sleeping." RD Jones- Perhaps you could elaborate on your comment, not being in the railroad industry, I'm not sure I follow your concerns. railster- I don’t know much about CSX’s relationships with passenger trains or their history with them, so thanks for your comment. I tried to steer away from the politics of rail for this particular piece, but perhaps I will do one for Red, Green, and Blue in the next couple weeks.

Tom- Perhaps you misread, I didn’t actually go along for a ride in the GenSet, though I did get the tour of the locomotive itself, so I couldn’t tell you what it sounded like. But I can tell you it felt like steel. And thanks for your question about the operators; the GenSets can be operated in cab or operated via a remote.

As far as using the “sleep mode” language, I figured since people would be reading this on their computer, they would know what I mean. The GenSet can be fired up quickly when it is in sleep mode, much like your computer, but for all intents and purposes, it is off while “sleeping.”

RD Jones- Perhaps you could elaborate on your comment, not being in the railroad industry, I’m not sure I follow your concerns.

]]> By: RD Jones http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4168 RD Jones Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:32:20 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4168 As I have to work with these on the UP, I am qualified to tell you the are 'JunkSets'. I have to spot industries and cannot do it with these. Texas paid for 90% of 'em and that's why we have keep 'em. Novel idea, horrible execution! As I have to work with these on the UP, I am qualified to tell you the are ‘JunkSets’. I have to spot industries and cannot do it with these. Texas paid for 90% of ‘em and that’s why we have keep ‘em.

Novel idea, horrible execution!

]]> By: RD Jones http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20303 RD Jones Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:32:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20303 As I have to work with these on the UP, I am qualified to tell you the are 'JunkSets'. I have to spot industries and cannot do it with these. Texas paid for 90% of 'em and that's why we have keep 'em. Novel idea, horrible execution! As I have to work with these on the UP, I am qualified to tell you the are ‘JunkSets’. I have to spot industries and cannot do it with these. Texas paid for 90% of ‘em and that’s why we have keep ‘em.

Novel idea, horrible execution!

]]> By: Tom http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4167 Tom Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:10:56 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4167 That wasn't an article, that was an advertisement for CSX. If the author was "fortunate" enough to go along for a ride, why not tell us about it? How did it sound? How did it feel? What did the operator do? What did he or she say? What's it like being in the cab? To make matters worse, there was no technical detail. What the heck is "sleep mode"? Every diesel I've seen is either running, or it's not. That wasn’t an article, that was an advertisement for CSX. If the author was “fortunate” enough to go along for a ride, why not tell us about it? How did it sound? How did it feel? What did the operator do? What did he or she say? What’s it like being in the cab?

To make matters worse, there was no technical detail. What the heck is “sleep mode”? Every diesel I’ve seen is either running, or it’s not.

]]> By: Tom http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-20302 Tom Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:10:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-20302 That wasn't an article, that was an advertisement for CSX. If the author was "fortunate" enough to go along for a ride, why not tell us about it? How did it sound? How did it feel? What did the operator do? What did he or she say? What's it like being in the cab? To make matters worse, there was no technical detail. What the heck is "sleep mode"? Every diesel I've seen is either running, or it's not. That wasn’t an article, that was an advertisement for CSX. If the author was “fortunate” enough to go along for a ride, why not tell us about it? How did it sound? How did it feel? What did the operator do? What did he or she say? What’s it like being in the cab?

To make matters worse, there was no technical detail. What the heck is “sleep mode”? Every diesel I’ve seen is either running, or it’s not.

]]> By: Gutfred http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/24/new-diesel-genset-locomotive-cuts-co2-emissions-by-50/#comment-4166 Gutfred Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:37:15 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1319#comment-4166 Choo Choo! ZZZZZZZZZ.... Choo Choo! ZZZZZZZZ..... Choo Choo! ZZZZZZZZZ…. Choo Choo! ZZZZZZZZ…..

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