HYDROGEN-FUELED RAILROAD MOTIVE POWER SYSTEMS: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Under U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration sponsorship, and as part of its transportation energy conservation activity, a special assessment of prospects for railroad-system use of hydrogen fuel was conducted in the summer of 1976. Based on contacts with railroad organizations and individuals in government, industry, and research organizations, the feasibility and desirability of converting conventional diesel-electric locomotives to hydrogen operation were evaluated. Such a step is shown to be technically feasible and would provide another alternative--in addition to hydrocarbon synthetic fuels and railway electrification--for moving U.S. railroad systems away from today's near total dependency on petroleum. Environmental benefits would also accrue. The study report provides (1) the overall rationale for developing hydrogen railroad motive power systems, (2) an assessment of technical feasibility, and (3) a nominal development and demonstration program plan. (ERA citation 03:007076)

• Corporate Authors:

  Escher Technology Associates

  St. Johns, MI  United States  48879

  Energy Research and Development Administration

  20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Foster, R W
  • Escher, WJD
• Publication Date: 1976-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 252 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Development; Diesel electric locomotives; Diesel fuels; Energy resources; Feasibility analysis; Hydrogen fuels; Research
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Old TRIS Terms: Fuel sources
• Subject Areas: Energy; Railroads; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175426
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 19 1978 12:00AM