Canadian railway CN is testing two mainline diesel-electric locomotives fueled principally by natural gas in revenue service in northern Alberta and is working with technology partners to develop a natural gas railway engine and standardized fueling car, or tender.

“CN launched this locomotive test to explore the use of natural gas as a potential alternative to conventional diesel fuel,” said CN COO Keith Creel. “Natural gas has a lower carbon content compared with diesel fuel, so that locomotives using natural gas — if the railway technology employing this form of energy ultimately proves viable — would produce significantly fewer carbon dioxide emissions.”

CN retrofitted the diesel engines in two 3,000 hp Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) SD40-2 locomotives to run on natural gas using conversion kits supplied by Energy Conversions Inc. of Tacoma, WA. Energy Conversions claims the hybrid fuel locomotive will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 70% over a locomotive duty cycle.

The retrofitted locomotives, using 90% natural gas, with 10% diesel fuel for ignition, are paired with a natural gas fuel tender, or specially equipped and protected tank car, between them. Natural gas fueling is being provided by Encana Corp.

The natural gas fueled locomotives are being tested on the 300-mile run north of Edmonton to Fort McMurray, rail gateway to the oilsands region of northern Alberta. Fueling and maintenance take place in Edmonton, CN said.

CN is also working with EMD, Westport Innovations Inc. and Gaz Metro Transport Solutions on a longer-term project to explore a state-of-the-art natural gas railway engine and a standardized railway tender. The railway said it will provide two 4,300 hp SD70M-2 EMD locomotives for the test program. EMD, in addition to the engine conversion, will supply technical expertise to integrate the natural gas engine, related components and controls into the locomotive, including Westport high-pressure direct injection technology and natural gas fuel system technologies. Gaz Metro will develop gas liquefaction requirements and distribution systems. “An innovative natural gas tender for this initiative will be jointly developed by the project partners,” CN said.

The CN-led group expects to conduct engine laboratory tests in 2013 and to roll out the prototype mainline locomotives for road tests in 2014. As part of the project, Westport secured a funding commitment of C$2.3 million from the Canadian government’s Sustainable Development Technology Canada program to develop the direct-injection technology for high-horsepower applications.

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