Next Meeting

Next Meeting of the National Capital Land Transportation Committee

Tuesday September 9, 2008

Date: September 9, 2008
Speaker:
- John Rhodes
- Transportation Analyst
- R. L. Banks & Associates
- Arlington, VA
Topic: Economics of Coal as a Locomotive Fuel
A modern coal burning steam locomotive could reduce US Class I railroad fuel cost by over 65%. In 2006, US Class I railroads burned 4.2 billion gallons of diesel fuel, costing $8.1 billion. The dollar value of coal that would accomplish the same amount of “work” is less $3.0 billion. This is a cost savings of more than $5 billion per year. If the US Class I railroads converted to steam locomotives the cost savings would pay for the locomotives and servicing facilities in as little as 5 years.
The modern steam locomotive would be a reciprocating steam locomotive but would be vastly different and improved from the types of steam locomotives used by the railroads in years past. The presentation will focus on the changes in technology, the use characteristics of the new type of locomotives, and the economics.
Future Meetings:
October 14, 2008 - Michael Smith, Positive Train Control
November 11, 2008 - Tom Engle, Electrically Controlled Pneumatic Brakes
December 9, 2008 - Gerry Arnold, Ceramic Railroad Wheels
January 13, 2009 - TBD
February 10, 2009 - TBD
March 10, 2009 - TBD
April 14, 2009 - TBD
May 12, 2009 - TBD
June 9, 2009 - TBD.