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turbodog Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,761 Points:1,363,415 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 7:51:12 PM Ignore turbodog Report Abuse (BRK.A, BRK.B), one of the biggest U.S. consumers of diesel fuel, plans this year to test using natural gas to power its locomotives. If successful, the experiment could weaken oil's dominance as a transportation fuel and provide a new outlet for the glut of cheap natural gas in North America. Read comments Visit Seeking Alpha for full article

turbodog

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Mississippi

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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 7:51:12 PM

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(BRK.A, BRK.B), one of the biggest U.S. consumers of diesel fuel, plans this year to test using natural gas to power its locomotives. If successful, the experiment could weaken oil's dominance as a transportation fuel and provide a new outlet for the glut of cheap natural gas in North America. Read comments
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REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,763 Points:592,720 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 6:03:24 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Increase demand......... Increase price
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,620 Points:1,143,220 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 1:35:10 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Thank you for submitting this article, turbodog.
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,453 Points:839,810 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 6:23:05 PM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse A big rail company has the capital to invest in NG infrastructure. The rest of us don't. We need the infrastructure to take advantage of NG.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,166 Points:1,299,195 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:02:03 PM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse Bad link But 'Read comments' makes me think that might be the whole article anyway
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,342 Points:162,925 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 11:26:35 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse Not likely! [Edited by: Norm10 at 3/6/2013 11:26:48 AM EST]
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,445 Points:1,137,335 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 10:51:02 AM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse Sounds like a good plan. To boldly go where no locomotive has gone before.
Hemond Champion Author Providence Posts:8,191 Points:133,625 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 10:37:23 AM Ignore Hemond Report Abuse QUOTE :::CNG will just run out even faster. The 'glut' is short term---do some research.::: You're joking , the amount of natural gas available is mind boggling. Guess you don't follow your own advice about research. [Edited by: Hemond at 3/6/2013 10:41:36 AM EST]
Hemond Champion Author Providence Posts:8,191 Points:133,625 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 10:33:50 AM Ignore Hemond Report Abuse QUOTE :::Why? Trains are very efficient running on diesel.::: Because diesel is $4.29/gal while the equivalent energy from LPG is 42cents.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,488 Points:733,325 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 9:37:54 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Carry the tanks
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,662 Points:1,870,100 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 9:25:08 AM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse Best solution ... that would reduce quite a bit of diesel consumption
EnviroChemist All-Star Author Oklahoma Posts:729 Points:210,085 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 9:15:26 AM Ignore EnviroChemist Report Abuse Why? Trains are very efficient running on diesel.
fencemanNY Veteran Author New York Posts:416 Points:358,025 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 8:04:37 AM Ignore fencemanNY Report Abuse Great idea. NG trains can haul railcars filled with CNG to all parts of the US from wherever its being produced.
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,850 Points:735,905 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 7:34:21 AM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse CNG is just 'cheap'--its a much lower energy fuel than diesel so much less efficient. If the price goes up, much more expensive to ship everything. CNG will just run out even faster. The 'glut' is short term---do some research. Long term viability of train lines would be to electrify the main lines, with diesel-electric locomotives that have an overhead trolly that raises whenever there is electrified lines available, and lowers to let it go back to running on diesel where there isn't, like spurs and lightly travelled routes. This is how much of the world does trains. Diesels are already running on electric traction--the diesel engine is only a generator set to run the electric motors.
fora_7 All-Star Author Montreal Posts:862 Points:206,405 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 7:32:47 AM Ignore fora_7 Report Abuse Very doubtful
USMCturtlehead Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,017 Points:104,075 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 7:16:28 AM Ignore USMCturtlehead Report Abuse Shipping by train is already economical, would this help make it more economical.
sabre75 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,663 Points:340,395 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 7:12:32 AM Ignore sabre75 Report Abuse OK
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,601 Points:434,880 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 6:49:24 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse This could be a very big change is how goods and commodities are transported.
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,330 Points:311,140 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 6:45:34 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse Warren Buffet stated on CNBC on Monday that they have purchases three or four test locomotives which run on Natural Gas. At the reduced cost of CNG it only makes sense....
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:10,104 Points:2,349,580 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 4:12:30 AM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse This is something I would really like to see. Diesel engines can be converted to run on Natural Gas and that is a proven fact. Talk about a dollar saving. Today I saw a price for Liquid Natural Gas at $2.54 and Compressed Natural Gas for $1.88. Compare that to the lowest prices for diesel on Gas Buddy in the Salt Lake area at $3.79 with some places hitting $4.06 and more. That is at least a 51 percent savings to 54 percent saving.
pricewar Champion Author Ogden Posts:1,945 Points:275,215 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 4:05:04 AM Ignore pricewar Report Abuse Whatever works economically
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,083 Points:1,012,380 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 3:02:41 AM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse Go for it.
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,523 Points:1,360,935 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 2:22:54 AM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse Oh, the possibilities.
Hemond Champion Author Providence Posts:8,191 Points:133,625 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:59:56 AM Ignore Hemond Report Abuse Got a link for the article you referenced? Your link goes nowhere.
Pmgr Veteran Author San Antonio Posts:484 Points:127,955 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:32:52 AM Ignore Pmgr Report Abuse ok
Pmgr Veteran Author San Antonio Posts:484 Points:127,955 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:29:22 AM Ignore Pmgr Report Abuse let's go
musicreporter All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:626 Points:134,740 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:26:57 AM Ignore musicreporter Report Abuse anything that helps
iFueler Champion Author Durham Posts:64,423 Points:179,500 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:23:45 AM Ignore iFueler Report Abuse sounds like may be a good idea
gcalleja All-Star Author Miami Posts:919 Points:550,945 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:22:52 AM Ignore gcalleja Report Abuse Good!
Cothrom Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,757 Points:725,600 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:22:12 AM Ignore Cothrom Report Abuse If they can implement it that would be killer!
Wally3023 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,030 Points:540,200 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:07:42 AM Ignore Wally3023 Report Abuse Wow
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,495 Points:1,001,555 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 12:52:11 AM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse Interesting.
JohnofGB Champion Author Flint Posts:5,426 Points:1,097,170 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 12:39:31 AM Ignore JohnofGB Report Abuse Warren Buffet's Burlington Northern is experimenting with this new train fuel.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,972 Points:1,276,975 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 12:31:39 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Interesting.
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:610,325 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 12:24:42 AM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Will be interested in hearing how this plays out.
Vetteblu Champion Author Denver Posts:2,675 Points:780,820 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 11:43:17 PM Ignore Vetteblu Report Abuse Hard to believe this is new.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,655 Points:1,118,650 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 11:22:44 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse wow. great idea. where are the cng cars?
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,511 Points:892,150 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:56:24 PM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse I think trains should go with a dual fuel system, like many cargo ships.
drobbbb Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,480 Points:812,460 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:52:43 PM Ignore drobbbb Report Abuse sounds like a winner
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,555 Points:1,787,575 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:48:49 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Good. Let's use more of America's and Canada's plentiful supplies of natural gas.
nsdp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,117 Points:47,315 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:42:43 PM Ignore nsdp Report Abuse Tom you don't convert existing engines you buy new locomotives with tender cars. UP has been running a test bed for three years now and its fuel costs are about 1/5th of diesel. Maintenance is maybe 1/2 of the cost for a diesel locomotive. Farmers substituted NG for propane and diesel in Oglala irrigation wells int he 1950's so it should be no big deal for the Railroads to catch up 60 years later.
Trudat316 Veteran Author Missouri Posts:323 Points:54,290 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:39:51 PM Ignore Trudat316 Report Abuse Go for it!
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,877 Points:1,519,305 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 10:38:22 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Great news.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,095 Points:1,623,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 9:59:15 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse It would sure beat the lousy bunker oil and diesel that is used now.
pleinyeux All-Star Author Montreal Posts:786 Points:200,605 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 9:40:36 PM Ignore pleinyeux Report Abuse I hope Natural Gas for Trains save plenty of money
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:5,357 Points:1,597,980 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 9:36:59 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse again, the conversion cost is very high. Yes natural gas is cheap right now. It will not remain that way for a very long time; probably not long enough for most conversion costs to be paid for with the cheaper natural gas of today.
BobBG All-Star Author Albany Posts:820 Points:810,710 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 9:26:37 PM Ignore BobBG Report Abuse Natural gas burns cleaner and is cheaper, so let's hope it works well.
race2IT Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:1,773 Points:725,185 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 8:10:27 PM Ignore race2IT Report Abuse I hope so because I ride the trains, rails, buses, and any mass transits, now. If they do use natural gas mass transit will save plenty of money and so will the riders, I hope.
carrek Sophomore Author Seattle Posts:230 Points:190,350 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 8:08:20 PM Ignore carrek Report Abuse Burning natural gas on trains would be much better for the environment.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,250 Points:2,372,345 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 5, 2013 7:55:06 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse smart move i think