Fuel Savings Techniques for Railroads

Objectives: Learn the relationship between locomotive operation and fuel usage. Locomotive Tractive Effort and Drawbar Force are presented along with the relationship between train drag and locomotive power requirements. It also explains the critical distinction between locomotive efficiency and train efficiency and how to exploit this difference.
The relationship between track and equipment engineering is also explored. Ways for the reader to determine the fuel use effects of change in train makeup and operation are presented.

Audience: Locomotive engineers, dispatchers, people involved with train makeup and anyone interested in using fuel efficiently in rail transportation.