FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT IN RAIL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION: MULTIPLE UNIT THROTTLE CONTROL TO CONSERVE FUEL

During tests performed in conjunction with the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific railroads and AMTRAK, significant fuel savings were realized by using a semi-automatic throttle control device or fuel saver system to take one or more units of the locomotive consist off-line when the available power and tractive effort exceeded the demand. This procedure effectively lowered the horsepower per ton ratio of the train, improved power management in various terrains, and decreased the rate of fuel consumption.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass. See also report dated Dec 75, PB-250673.
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142
• Authors:
  • Jacobs, M E
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 58 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Control devices; Control systems; Diesel electric locomotives; Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Diesel locomotives; Electric circuits; Energy; Energy conservation; Freight transportation; Fuel conservation; Fuel consumption; Locomotive engineers; Locomotive operation; Locomotives; Mathematical models; Multiple unit locomotives; Passenger transportation; Railroad transportation; Throttles; Train operations; Unit trains
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak; BNSF Railway; Union Pacific Railroad
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo transportation; Energy models; Locomotive controls; Locomotive engineer's tasks; Throttling; Trainlines
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00176016
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/ORD-78/13 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 19 1978 12:00AM