Development of a Low Emissions Upgrade Kit for EMD GP20D and GP15D Locomotives

This paper describes the development of a low emissions upgrade kit for EMD GP20D and GP15D locomotives. These locomotives were originally manufactured in 2001, and met EPA Tier 1 locomotive emission regulations. The 1,491 kW (2,000 HP) EMD GP20D locomotives are powered by Caterpillar 3516B engines, and the 1,119 kW (1,500 HP) EMD GP15D locomotives are powered by Caterpillar 3512B engines. CIT Rail owns a fleet of 50 of these locomotives that are approaching their mid-life before first overhaul. Baseline exhaust emissions testing was followed by a low emissions retrofit development focusing on fuel injection timing, crankcase ventilation filtration, and application of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), and then later a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The result was a EPA Tier 0+ certification of the low emissions upgrade kit, with emission levels below EPA Line-Haul Tier 3 NOx, and Tier 4 HC, CO, and PM levels.