JUNE  2DD5

   AN  OVERVIEW FOR  CITIZENS  AND
   SOLUTIONS  FOR  RAILROAD  COMPANIES
                                                           SAVE  MONEY AND
                                                                 REDUCE  POLLUTION
                 LDCDMDTIVE    SWITCHER   IDLING
              AND    IDLE   CONTROL   TECHNOLOGY
        Switchers can spend
       more than 4,000 hours
             idling per year.

         Idling switchers use
    3 to 11 gallons of fuel per
        hour depending on the
        outside temperature.

    Nationally, idling switchers
            emit 13,000 tons
        of NOx and 500 tons
            of PM per year.
         For more information:
      Visit www.epa.gov/ne/
       eco/diesel/,orcallthe
     EPA Air Quality Hotline at
             1-800-821-1237
        United States
        Environmental Protection
        Agency New England

        1 Congress Street
        Suite 1100
        Boston, MA 02114-2023
                OVERVIEW  FDR
                CITIZENS
               The locomotive industry plays an important role
               in the nationwide transport of people and
               products. There are two types of locomotives
               commonly used by railroads—line-haul engines,
               which move freight or people across long
               distances, and switchyard locomotives
               (switchers), which move rail cars around a rail
               yard. Of the 20,000 large-scale locomotive
               engines currently in operation, 5,000 are
               estimated to be switchers. In addition, smaller
               railroads also operate switcher locomotives. These switchers
               are powered by large diesel engines that are frequently left
               idling when not in use, wasting fuel and releasing pollution
               into the air. Switcher engines can idle more than 4,000
               hours per year, consuming over  120 million gallons of fuel
               annually. While line-haul engines also idle, their estimated
               idling times are far less than switchers. Fortunately, new idle
               control technologies have been developed to reduce
               switcher idling without loss to productivity. Such products
               automatically shut down or start up an engine based on
               temperature or a set period of time. These products can
               also provide engine warmth in cold temperatures through
               the use of a smaller auxiliary engine or an electrical
               connection.

                WHY  Do SWITCHERS  IDLE?
               Switchers idle for several reasons. Some of the most
               common reasons include ensuring the engine is ready for
               immediate use, avoiding difficult start-ups due to a cold
               engine or a weak battery, and preventing freezing inside the
               engine. Locomotive engines do not use antifreeze.
               Therefore, temperatures below 40°F can damage the engine.
               Due to severe winter temperatures, idling is of particular
               concern in the New  England states. Idling the engine
               maintains the temperature of the fuel, oil, and water
               circulating throughout the engine. Idle control technologies,
               however, can maintain these temperatures more efficiently
               and eliminate the need for idling.

                WHAT  ARE  SOME OF THE
                PROBLEMS  WITH  IDLING?
               Idling locomotives emit significant amounts of pollution into
               the air, including: carbon dioxide, which contributes to
               global climate change; nitrogen oxides and volatile organic
               compounds, both of which contribute to the formation of


                                                               continued:)
    ENEFITS  OF
INSTALLING
IDLE CONTROL
TECHNOLOGY
                                                                                                   O  Reduce fuel
                                                                                                        consumption
                                                                                                        Save money
©  Reduce air pollution

O  Reduce noise pollution
EPA-901-F-001
I printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post consumer waste, using vegetable based inks

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ozone smog; carbon monoxide; and participate matter, which contributes to asthma, heart
disease, lung damage, and possibly cancer. In addition to creating air pollution, idling
locomotive engines are loud and waste fuel.

 WHERE  Da  SWITCHERS  IDLE?
Switchyard locomotive idling occurs at rail yards throughout the country. Each railroad
company operates at least one yard in which switchers idle. In New England there are
approximately 100 switchyard locomotives. Several large-scale railroad companies and
many smaller scale railroad companies operate these switchers.
 SOLUTIONS  FOR   RAILROAD   COMPANIES

 Haw  DOES  IDLE  CONTROL  TECHNOLOGY  WORK?
Idle control technologies allow the main engine on a locomotive - typically between 1,500
and 3,000 horsepower - to be shut down when not in use, without risking damage to the
engine regardless of the ambient temperature. When the main engine is shut down, a
smaller,  more efficient diesel engine, known as an auxiliary power unit, between 20 and 40
horsepower, operates instead of the locomotive engine. This smaller engine can provide
power to maintain the fuel, oil, and water temperatures necessary for safe and efficient
operation of the locomotive. Some systems also aid in automatically shutting down or
restarting the engine based on ambient temperature or a set period  of time.

 WHAT  ARE  SOME  OF THE  BENEFITS OF  IDLE
 CONTROL  TECHNOLOGY?

 REDUCED  FUEL  CONSUMPTION
Idling switchers use between 3 and  I I gallons of fuel per hour depending on the ambient
temperature. If a switcher idles 12 hours a day in  warm weather and burns 3 gallons of fuel
per hour, it would consume 36 gallons of fuel per day. To protect the engine in cold
weather, switchers idle at a higher engine speed, consuming even more fuel. If a switcher
idles 12  hours a day in cold weather and burns I  I gallons of fuel per hour, it would
consume I 32 gallons of fuel per day. Therefore, if we assume four months of cold weather
and eight months of warm weather, over the course of a year, a switcher could consume
over 24,000 gallons of fuel per year just idling. Installing an auxiliary power unit can
reduce fuel consumption to 0.8 gallons per hour, saving over 20,500 gallons  of fuel per
year. Installing an auxiliary power unit in combination with an automatic shut-down/start-
up system can further reduce fuel consumption.

 REDUCE AIR  POLLUTION
The emissions resulting from the operation of just one switcher  can produce 200 pounds
of particulate matter (PM) per year and three tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx)  per year.
Nationally, idling  switchers emit about I 3,000 tons of NOx and  500 tons of PM annually.
Additionally, switchers emit large quantities of other air pollutants. Installing idle control
technology can, in some cases, reduce these emissions by 90 percent.

 REDUCE  UNWANTED  NOISE  POLLUTION
Excessive noise from locomotive yards can lead to poor relationships between railroad
companies and local communities. The use of idle control technologies can reduce engine
noise by 84 to 97 percent (or by as much as fifteen decibels).

 How  MUCH  DOES  IDLE  CONTROL  TECHNOLOGY
 COST?
The cost of idle control technology depends on its manufacturer. In general, devices for
locomotives cost between $27,000 and $40,000. This initial investment, however, is more
than offset by the fuel saving benefits of the technology.  The example above demonstrates
a potential fuel savings of 20,500 gallons per year. If we assume fuel costs roughly a dollar
per gallon, owners can pay for idle control technology in  less than two years. In
subsequent years, the fuel savings will translate into reduced operating costs.
WHO  MAKES
IDLE  CONTROL
TECHNOLOGY
FOR LOCOMOTIVES?
There are currently several
companies throughout the
country manufacturing and
selling idle control technology.
For a list of vendors and
more detailed product
information visit:
www.epa.gov/smartway/
idlingtechnologies.htm
The following case studies
provide important information
about EPA's experience with
locomotive idle control
technologies:
www.epa.gov/smartway/
idle-demo.htm
The average cost of idle control
technolgy $33,000

Switchers  using idle control
technology can save as much as
20,500 gallons of fuel per year and
reduce emissions by 90 percent

Fuel savings can  offset the cost
of installing idle control technology
in less than two years.

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