Energy Audit of the Boston and Maine Railroad

PDFTech ReportDOT-TSC-FRA-81-11FRA/ORD-81/43RR152/R1308Freight trainsAuditingEnergy conservationEnergy consumptionEngine idlingDiesel fuelsEmpty car milesMassachusettsMaineUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationHitz, John S.Dorer, RobertCultrera, StephenBohnwagner, ArthurJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (U.S.)United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and DevelopmentAGR-INFRASTRUCTURE-RailroadsNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Rail Energy and EnvironmentNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Energy and EnvironmentNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATIONVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterThis report documents an energy audit of the Boston and Maine (B&M) Railroad performed in support of a joint Government/industry program to determine means of conserving energy on railroads without reducing safety or service quality. The audit was performed by the Department of Transportation's Transportation Systems Center and the B&M Railroad under the sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration. Phase I of the energy audit involved acquisition and analysis of energy-related data for the month of December 1979 to determine energy supply and use patterns on the B&M and identify major areas of energy use for conservation emphasis. Phase II involved more detailed analysis of additional diesel fuel data for the months of December 1979 through August 1980 to assist in identifying and evaluating conservation options for freight train operations. The energy audit showed that railroads should focus energy conservation efforts on freight train operations where 78% of the total energy used by the B&M was consumed. Accurate metering of diesel fuel supply, use and inventories is a necessary first step in managing conservation of this resource. A strong relationship was found between diesel fuel consumed and ton-miles of work performed indicating that actions taken to increase the gross-to-tare weight ratio of trains (e.g., reduced empty car movement) will reduce overall fuel consumption. A trend towards greater fuel use efficiency (ton-miles per gallon) with warmer weather was explained, in part, by the effectiveness of the B&M policy of restricted locomotive idling during warmer months