Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions From a 1,125 kW Multiple Genset Switcher Locomotive

Conventional switcher or shunting locomotives in North America are powered by a single Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12 or 16 cylinder 645E engine which operate at eight distinct power levels, plus idle, at engine speeds ranging from 250 to 900 rpm, and power ratings of 1125 to 1500 kW. The individual power (notch) settings are weighted according to an established duty cycle to obtain overall fuel consumption and exhaust emission rates. Recently introduced locomotive power systems utilize multiple smaller displacement non-road diesel engines packaged as individual generator sets to obtain a cleaner and more efficient locomotive. This paper compares exhaust emissions and fuel consumption from a conventional switcher locomotive with a single large displacement engine to that of a repowered locomotive utilizing three 345 kW generators.