Abstracts
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| Title | Page Number | Year | Committee | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Coding: An Update on Tier Emission Compliance | 38-46 | 2012 | Diesel Material Control | Provides a description of the available methods to mark, follow and inventory components, locomotives and systems. Includes information of RFID, engraving, and Laser etching Bar Codes. |
| Tracking Cores | 31-37 | 2012 | Diesel Material Control | Provides a glossary of terms relavant to repairable/core material as well as examples that fit each definition. |
| Failure Modes and Effects Analysis | 51-57 | 2012 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides information about FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis), and defines terms used in the program. |
| Findin an EPA Certified Emissions Kit for Locomotive Engine Overhaul | 78-88 | 2012 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides an introduction to the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), Document Index System, (DIS) as a means of finding certified remanufacture kit options. It details the steps involved in using the website along with some helpful notes and tips. |
| Locomotive Idle Minimization | 90-101 | 2012 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides a description of the issues and benefits involved in installing an idle minimization system on your locomotive. |
| Main Generators – AR Type Traction Alternators – Best Practices – II Removal, Installation and Alignment | 58-77 | 2012 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | A continuation of “Main Generators – Best Practices Part One”, addressing main generator removal, installation, and alignment. |
| Manual Torqe Wrench Basics | 102-116 | 2012 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Details safety involved in using manual torque wrenches, basic torque concepts, types of hand torque wrenches, proper usage, and torque verification. |
| Diesel Engine Health Prediction with Integrated Lube Oil Analysis | 120-130 | 2012 | Lubricants and Environmental | Describes the development of an engine health monitoring and failure prediction software tool (Incipient Failure Tool) which uses oil analysis and engine components failure data. |
| Locomotive Durability Test Protocol for Alternate Fuels and Biodiesel | 131-145 | 2012 | Lubricants and Environmental | This paper provides a suggested locomotive durability field test protocol in response to the use of biodiesel blends and alternative fuels. |
| A New Tier o+ Solution EFI for EMD 645 Engines | 169-175 | 2012 | New technologies | Presents an EFI system that meets EPA standards and saves fuel by improving performance in fuel control with the ability to control injector timing throughout the full power range, enhanced engine protection, and improved diagnostic capabilities. |
| Locomotive Repower with a High-Speed Engine and a Reduction Gearbox | 176-182 | 2012 | New technologies | Presents a competitive low-emission locomotive repower package designed to retain the performance, reliability and maintanability characteristic of traditional single-engine locomotives. |
| The A3 Problems Solving Process in Action – A Case Study | 183-187 | 2012 | New technologies | Describes the A3 Problem Solving Process, which is an eight step process, and the results that the major North American railroad saw as they utilized this system. |
| Tractive Effort and Adhesion: A review of Yesterday, A look at Today, Concerns for Tomorrow | 150-168 | 2012 | New technologies | Explains the fundamentals of tractive effort, and provides models and formulas to help determine cost-effectiveness of additional tractive effort options. |
| Diesel Engine Health Prediction with Integrated Lube Oil Analysis | 216-222 | 2012 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Presents the current condition and potential future of machine vision based systems capable of automatically detecting defects in rolling stock. |
| Smart Technologies for Locomotive 92-Day Inspections-Automate or Semi Automate Wheel Measurement Gauges | 223-232 | 2012 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Describes the benefits of using automatic or semi-automatic wheel measurement gauges at 92 day inspection as opposed to manual gauges. |
| Design for Reliability: Locomotive Lifecycle Approach | 198-212 | 2012 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Reviews some benchmark concepts for implementing a reliability program and elaborates on the primary mechanisms to achieve and maintain reliablity goals throughout the locomotive life cycle. |
| Extending Locomotive Maintenance to 184 Day Intervals – Part II | 192-197 | 2012 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Advocates that 92-day inspection intervals be extended to 184-day intervals, and provides evidence as to why this should be changed. |
| Efficiency and Maintenance Aspects of the New Amtrak Electric Locomotive ACS 64 | 102-111 | 2011 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explores the benefits of replacing out-dated locomotive models with the New Amtrak ACS 64 locomotive. |
| Modernizing an Aging Heavy Haul Locmomotive Fleet | 112-128 | 2011 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explores various technologies that can be applied to cost effectively add 1 to 2 decades of life to older heavy haul locomotives, and provides information to help make the decision whether or not it is worth it to modernize older locomotives. |
| Three Stage Battery Charging for EMD Locomotives | 130-138 | 2011 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Covers proper charging of the locomotive battery to meet today’s demands whether it is the traditional flooded lead acid battery, an Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) maintenance free battery or one of the new Lithium Ion smart batteries (L-Ion) being developed by BNSF and Start Pac ®. |
| Small/Heavy Component Ergonomics Locomotive Starters | 142-152 | 2011 | Diesel Material Control | Explains various safety concerns related to removing and replacing electric starters in locomotives, and provides methods to minimize the risk of injury to maintenance personnel. |
| Storage, Handling, and Recycling of Locomotive Batteries | 153-162 | 2011 | Diesel Material Control | Part of our on-going series of papers on Green Theme- storage, handling and recycling of locomotive batteries. |
| Design for Reliability | 42-53 | 2011 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides a high level introduction to DFR (Design for Reliablity), namely, what is DFR, why DFR, the advangates of DFR, will DFR increase product cost, the role of systems Engineering, and the DFR elements. |
| Locomotive Storage and Return to Service Best Practices | 30-41 | 2011 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides helpful tips and techniques to minimize product degradation during storage and optimize reliability once the locomotive is returned to service. |
| Main Generators – AR Type Traction Alternators – Best Practices – Identification and Maintenance | 54-61 | 2011 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides a mechanical maintenance overview of the main generator from a Midwest railroad’s perspective, concentrating on what are the best maintenance practices for our type of service with focus on the alternator rectifier (AR) type traction alternator with a D14 or D18 companion alternator (4L-87). |
| Diesel Exhaust Fluid Properties & Technical Information | 66-80 | 2011 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Discusses the technology behind SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), the handling and technical aspects of DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid), and how the infrastructure for this new DEF fluid can be developed in order to meet the needs in the railroad market. |
| Locomotive Biodiesel Fuel Update | 81-97 | 2011 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Provides an update to the 2005 biodiesel paper presented by the FL&E Committee [Bowen 2005], and presents information on government requirements for increased biodiesel production and use, included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). Also covers the activities of the SAE Technical Committee 7 (Fuels) “Biodiesel in Railroad Applications” Sub-committee, and gives highlights of two studies looking at locomotive exhaust emissions when operating on biodiesel fuel blends. |
| EPA Tier 4 Locomotive Development Status Update | 188-198 | 2011 | New technologies | Provides information about the what is being done to meet EPA emissions regulations, and what the future of emissions reductions looks like. |
| Positive Train Control | 183-187 | 2011 | New technologies | Gives details about the functionality and design of Positive Train Control PTC. |
| Automatic Wheel Inspection Systems | 172-179 | 2011 | Shop Safety, Processes and Equipment | Describes the automatic wheel measuring system and provides diagrams. |
| New Tooling Development – Level Loading, Extended Reach “C” Frame Lifting Device and Manipulator – Under the Hook Load Limiter Alarm | 165-171 | 2011 | Shop Safety, Processes and Equipment | A review of the reach “C” frame tools and their limitations and advantages for installing and remving ancillary components and equipment within the locomotive carbody. |
| Electrical Connectors: Standards & Field Service Challenges | 106-117 | 2010 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains how replacing, repairing, and providing maintenance for various on board equipment can affect the system’s electrical connector serviceability and maintainability. |
| Infrared Thermography in Locomotive Electrical Maintenance | 96-105 | 2010 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains the uses of infrared thermography in locomotive electrical maintenance. |
| Locomotive Batteries and Long Term Storage | 118-127 | 2010 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Provides information about the effects of long-term storage on lead acid batteries, as well as gives tips on how to best preserve batteries put into long term storage. |
| Long Term Storage Electrical Equipment | 128-129 | 2010 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Covers non-battery related electrical systems. The electrical committee investigated all electrical components onboard the locomotives, reviewed OEM and Supplier documentation, and railroads existing policies to determine the best practices when dealing with long term storage. |
| Bar Coding, Material Tagging and Identification for Recycle and HAZMAT Controls | 84-88 | 2010 | Diesel Material Control | Explores various options for Bar Coding and tagging materials, especially for Recycle and HAZMAT materials. |
| CN & Sustainable Procurement | 89-92 | 2010 | Diesel Material Control | Reviews the basics of Sustainable Procurement, explains the benefits of the practice, and answers questions about what constitutes Sustainable Procurement. |
| Green Initiatives | 80-83 | 2010 | Diesel Material Control | focuses on some of the industry-wide Green Initiatives currently in use, and explores their environmental and financial benefits. |
| Effect of Intake Air Filter Restriction on Fuel Consumption and Emissions | 148-154 | 2010 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Investigates the fuel consumption and emissions changes due to the addition of intake restriction on an Eletro-Motive Diesel, two-cycle, 12-645E3 diesel engine. |
| EMD Turbocharger Chang out Best Practices | 134-147 | 2010 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Gives an overview of the EMD turbocharger, and explains the proper way to install, troubleshoot, and remove it. |
| Locomotive Diesel exhaust Aftertreatment Demonstrations | 155-160 | 2010 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Presents information on the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Selective Catalytic Reduction (SRC), Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Crankcase Ventilation (CCV). |
| Locomotive Diesel Fuel Additives and Fuel Savings Devices Evaluation Procedure` | 164-166 | 2010 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Gives an update to the AAR Recommended Practice RP503 “Evaluation Procedure For Measuring Changes in Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions in Medium Speed Diesel Engines”. |
| The Clean Water Act and How it Affects Railroad Operations | 167-173 | 2010 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Focuses on updates to Spill Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plans, the implementation of recent changes, and your involvement. Also includes information on Wastewater Treatment, and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP). |
| Testing of the BNSF Fuel-Cell Switch Locomotive: Part 2 | 38-47 | 2010 | New technologies | Focuses on impact testing, hydrogen fueling, and operational demonstration testing in the switching application in Los Angeles.Provides an overview of technologies that contribute to reducing diesel exhaust emissions to the levels mandated in the EPA Tier 4 locomotive emission regulations. Begins with a description of the composition of diesel exhaust, and a brief summary of the EPA locomotive emission regulations. |
| Tier 4 Diesel Emission Reduction Strategies | 28-37 | 2010 | New technologies | Provides an overview of technologies that contribute to reducing diesel exhaust emissions to the levels mandated in the EPA Tier 4 locomotive emission regulations. Begins with a description of the composition of diesel exhaust, and a brief summary of the EPA locomotive emission regulations. |
| 710ECO™ Repower | 201-203 | 2009 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explores the concept of the 710ECO Repower, and explores many of the benefits to this type of improvement. |
| EMD Slip Rings – Brushes and Wear | 164-183 | 2009 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Concentrates on those eight carbon brushes in the modern EMD locomotive. |
| Extending Locomotive Maintenance | 192-200 | 2009 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Deals with extending the 92 day maintenance interval to 184 days, addresses both new and older locomotives. |
| Using Testing Instrumentation Safely on Gen-set and AC Locomotives | 184-191 | 2009 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Provides awareness to electrical safety. |
| CSX Supplier Quality “Supplier Rating System” | 208-209 | 2009 | Diesel Material Control | Provides information about how the CSX system works. |
| Air Compressors – Best Practices – Back Shop Maintenance Part II | 143-155 | 2009 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Continues the previous year’s paper, and addresses failure corrective actions, and unaddressed concerns from the previous year’s paper. |
| Alignment Control Coupler requirementsd | 156-159 | 2009 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Describes the compliance impact of several possible solutions for alignment control couplers. |
| The thoroughbred Maintenance System | 138-142 | 2009 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Outlines the six elements of success for the Thoroughbred Locomotive Maintenance system utilized by Norfolk Southern to have industry-leading out-of-service ratios. |
| Variability and the Toyota Production System | 118-137 | 2009 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Reviews the Toyota Production system and the advantages and challenges of implementing it. |
| Locomotive Testing of an Automatic Self-Cleaning Lube oil Filter and Centrifuges | 68-80 | 2009 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Details the operation, installation, and performance of an automatic self-cleaning filter and two centrifuges on a locomotive utilized in general freight |
| New Generation Oil Additive Technology for Engines Operating on Low and Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel | 32-59 | 2009 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Describes the development of a new low ash additive package formulation designed to meet these requirements in support of the expected Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA) Generation 6 engine lubricants. |
| The Clean Water Act and How it Affects Railroad Operations | 60-67 | 2009 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Focuses on updates to Spill Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plans, the implementation of recent changes, and your involvement. Also includes information on Wastewater Treatment, and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP). |
| Ethanol-Electric Hybrid Locomotives | 84-105 | 2009 | New technologies | Explores different biofuels and their possible railroad applications. |
| Testing of the BNSF Fuel-Cell Switch Locomotive: Part 1 | 106-114 | 2009 | New technologies | Focuses on the testing to-date of the powerplant subsystems (e.g., air and cooling modules), initial operational tests at the SMT, and it lays the foundation for the tests to follow at TTCI and in the LABasin. |
| Going Green in the Maintenance Facility | 213-217 | 2009 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Describes what is being done to reduce energy consumption in the shop and what can be done to further reduce energy consumption. |
| Shop Equipment for Truck Removal, Maintenance and Repair | 218-229 | 2009 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Describes the necessary equipment for truck removal, maintenance and repair. |
| Challenges with Retrofitting New Systems to old Locomotives | 168-175 | 2008 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Discusses the need to do a retrofit as well as challenges and actions involved in a typical equipment retrofit. |
| Electric Motor Preventative Maintenance | 188-216 | 2008 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Discusses the principles of electric motor maintenance and gives detailed definitions of various electrical terms. |
| Locomootive Maintenance Conventional Vs. Genset | 176-183 | 2008 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Compares and contrast some of the maintenance points of conventional diesel electric locomotives and new “Genset” locomotives. |
| Using Test Instrumentation Safely | 184-187 | 2008 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Provides an awareness of electrical safety hazards and describes how to minimize these hazards. |
| Lean Manufacting as it Applies to Material Handling | 221-228 | 2008 | Diesel Material Control | Details the Lean maintenance system and how it applies to locomotive power assembly availability. |
| Air Compressors Best Practices Identification and Maintenance, Part I | 146-163 | 2008 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides an overview of air compressor types, air compressor drives, suggested preventative maintenance practices and maintenance strategies. |
| EPA Emission Requirements for Locomotives | 139-145 | 2008 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | A Rail Industry update for the New Locomotive Exhaust Emission Regulations provided by the EPA. Provides an overview of the background of the existing program, the new standards, and other new requirements. |
| Exhaust Aftertreatment Technologies Definitions and Maintenance | 130-138 | 2008 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Describes some of the current exhaust aftertreatment technologies with a clear definition of what it is and the maintenance issues associated with these add-on systems. Provides a reference document that can be regularly updated as these technologies are being introduced into the rail industry. |
| Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel: Impact on Locomotive Maintenance | 121-129 | 2008 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Reviews some of the potential mechanical issues with ULSD (Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel) and to familiarize mechanical departments with what to look for as their fleet converts to ULSD. Also gives a quick explanation of USLD. |
| Locomotive Idle and Start-Up Exhaust Emissions Testing | 44-61 | 2008 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Quantifies locomotive idle and start-up emissions, and answers the question: “At what point is it preferable from an emissions standpoint to idle a locomotive engine rather than shut down the engine and restart it when needed?” |
| Operation Effects of Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel in Locomotives | 62-83 | 2008 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Examines the current and future United States locomotive engine emissions regulations, briefly discusses possible engine technologies that may be used to achieve them, and presents the role of lower sulfur diesel fuels in helping to achieve these emissions standards. |
| Prevention of Fuel and Fuel Filter Headaches | 28-43 | 2008 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Describes the quality processes on major railroad has in place to prevent fuel problems and to maximize fuel filter life. |
| Maintenance Experience with Gen Set Switcher Locomotives to Date | 88-97 | 2008 | New technologies | Details the features and problems experienced to date in two types of gen set locomotives that have accumulated sufficient service for a meaningful report. |
| Maintenance of the BNSF Fuelcell-Hybrid Switch Locomotive | 98-117 | 2008 | New technologies | Focuses specifically on the BNSF Railway Company’s prototype fulecell-hybrid switch locomotive and its maintenance requirements. |
| Vehicle Progression Systems | 232-240 | 2008 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Describes what a progression system is, why it’s important, and various types of systems. |
| Finding Open and Short Circuits on AC Traction Motors | 164-191 | 2007 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Describes methods to detect open and short circuits on AC traction motors. |
| Locomotive Cab Signal Failures and Troubleshooting | 192-193 | 2007 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains locomotive cab signal failures and their causes. |
| Locomotive Software Management | 204-208 | 2007 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Covers why upgrades are needed to locomovite software, why it’s important to maintain software, and some beneficial techniques behind software management |
| Maintaining Main Generators – Some Safer Methods | 194-203 | 2007 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Deals with cleaning of the main generator commutator and seating of the main generator brushes and how these tasks can be done safer than they have been done in the past. |
| Insourcing vs. Outsourcing “The Altoona Story” | 114-116 | 2007 | Diesel Material Control | Describes the history, capabilities, and philosophies of the railroads that have owned the “Altoona Works” over the past 150 years. |
| Automatic Self-Cleaning Lube Oil filters and Centrifuges | 84-97 | 2007 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Compares self-cleaning lube oil filters with disposable paper cartridge filters. |
| Diesel fuel 2007 and Beyond, What Will Be in Your Tanks? | 98-109 | 2007 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Addresses some of the questions on supply variation and supply distribution, and includes a brief discussion of the survey results and the chemical and physical properties differences in regards to different fuel types. |
| CN Distributed Braking Car | 152-160 | 2007 | New Technologies | Explains the benefits of a Distributed Braking Car, and gives diagrams and pictures of the same. |
| Fuelcell Hybrid Switcher Locomotive: Engineering Design | 120-139 | 2007 | New Technologies | Provides a status review of the fuelcell-hybrid switcher’s engineering design as of June 2007, specifically in regards to packaging of the fuelcell power module, hydrogen storage, and shock and vibration isolation. |
| Locomotive Digital Video Recorder | 140-151 | 2007 | New Technologies | Describes the different types of Digital Video Recorders that are being installed on road locomotives by Cklass 1 Railroads today. Gives details on installation, maintenance requirements, and problems the recorders are having, as well as the positive effect the recorders have in court rooms. |
| Evolution and Improvements in Locomotive Rerailing Cranes | 70-80 | 2007 | Shop Safety, Equipment and Processes | Details the history of locomotive rerailing cranes and describes the advantages of the modern crane. |
| Diagnostic Techniques for Predictive/Preventative Maintenance – Exploitation of New Technology | 40-45 | 2007 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Challenges the railroad industry to exploit new technology for the future of the rail industry in regards to preventative and predictive maintenance. |
| Locomotive Horn Testing | 34-39 | 2007 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Addresses horn testing and how to do so in compliance with the new rules established by the FRA. |
| Locomotive Particulate Matter Emissions Reduction Through Application of Exhaust Aftertreatment Systems | 46-67 | 2007 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Discusses the recently proposed EPA emissions standards, the make up of the particulate matter (PM), the different technologies that are currently available to reduce PM emissions, and three different projects that are demonstrating these experimental PM reducing technologies in Class I locomotive applications. |
| Training A New Work Force | 30-33 | 2007 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Examines each of the challenges of training a new work force individually, and also as a whole. |
| Fuel Filtration Considerations in the Changing Landscape of Engines and Fuels in Railroad Applications | 28-37 | 2013 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Reviews the technological changes in railroad engines and dscusses case studies where filtration problems were experienced and suitable engineering solutions were implemented. |
| Locomotive Biodiesel Fuel Updates | 55-62 | 2013 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Covers U.S. Diesel fuel quality requirements, biodiesel mandates in USA, locomotive fuel effects projects, two FRA grants at SwRI, and planning for future work. |
| Diesel Fuel Troubleshooting Guide | 38-62 | 2013 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Provides the fuel user with recommendations and best practices for monitoring diesel fuel and investigating any fuel related issues in railroad applications. |
| Cold Soak Filter Plugging Test | 64-72 | 2013 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Discusses the forensic research which identified alklali metal soap formation as the filter plugging material, and suggests a relativley quick/easy screening test to determine if fuel may be subject to cold weather filter plugging, even when the classic cloud point/pour point numbers are within acceptable ranges. |
| End of the Line for the MU Jumper Multiple Locomotive Unit Control: A Discussion of Past, Present and Future | 77-90 | 2013 | New Technologies | Discusses the existing MU connection and what has made it successful, presents how the detriments of the cable affect modern railroads. Also discusses some existing and potential solutions, and briefly discusses the Association of American Railroads initiative that is currently underway to create a better standard. |
| Natural Gas Economics and Fueling for Locomotives | 92-118 | 2013 | New Technologies | Covers Natural gas pricing, locomotive fuel storage, and refueling. |
| What Are My Natural Gas Engine Choices? | 119-128 | 2013 | New Technologies | Delivers an accurate evaluation, contrasting some of the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to use natural gas a fuel. |
| FRA Requirements for Headlights, Ditch Lights and Other Lighting | 133-138 | 2013 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Provides a brief history of locomotive headlights leading up to the presently used sealed beam lamp, the Federal Railroad Administration requirements and changes in lighting technology. |
| Investigating Distributed Power Failures | 140-159 | 2013 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains various ways to test the Distributed Power system in order to understand the source of undesired emergencies. |
| Product Validation and Certification | 160-174 | 2013 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains the ways various environmental factors affect the electronic equipment on a locomotive, as well as various tests to determine the source of failures. |
| Senstors and Transducers Installation Tips | 175-183 | 2013 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Covers installation tips based on VIA Rail’s experience with sensors and transducers within the re-manufacturing program of its fleet of F40 locomotives. |
| Examining Lifecycle Costs Part One – Defining the Inputs | 188-195 | 2013 | Diesel Material Control | Takes an in-depth look at the various cost drivers in the life cycle of a product for railroads. Also looks at all the variables from cradle to grave that make up the true cost of products and services. |
| Avoiding Logic Traps in Problem Solving | 200-216 | 2013 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Considers some of the pitfalls that may arise when trying to solve problems. A common theme is how the inferences one draws about the potential causes of the problem(s) at hand are related to how one observes. |
| AMF Calibration Absolutes for All Air Brake Systems | 217-219 | 2013 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Explains the five calibration absolutes that must be applied for air brake systems. |
| Locomotive Hand Brake Maintenance, Best Practices | 220-233 | 2013 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Gives information on different locomotive hand brakes and the best techniques to maintain them. |
| Locomotive Cab Securement | 234-237 | 2013 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Provides information on how cab securement to prevent theft and vandalism. |
| The Drooping Brake Head – A Perennial Problem | 238-247 | 2013 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Covers the various methods currently being used to insure the bake head alignment with the cneter of the wheel, advantages and disadvantages with different methods, and what can be done to accomplish the repair when the problem occurs. |
| Modular Hardware and Software | 25-30 | 2015 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | |
| Idle Reduction on GE Locomotives | 31-34 | 2015 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Reviews two major options for anti-idling, and then discusses how one of the options, Auto Engine Start Stop (AESS) systems are implemented on later model GE locomotives. |
| The Ghost in the Machine: EMI on Your Locomotive | 35-51 | 2015 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Gives a brief historical review of the issue, an analysis of the categories and possible cuases of EMI, and a small collection of case studies of EMI on locomotives. |
| Video Borescope for Locomotive Maintenance Officers | 56-71 | 2015 | Shop Safety, Processes and Equipment | Describes the benefits of Video Borescope, common Videoscope inspections, provides a look back at older remote visual inspection technology, and describes the anatomy of a Video Borescope, as well as it’s applications. |
| Mechanical Department-3 Main Safety Focus Areas | 72-80 | 2015 | Shop Safety, Processes and Equipment | Explains the 3 main safety focus areas. |
| Second Life for DC Locomotives | 86-97 | 2015 | New Technologies | Details new technical solutions available for aging locomotive fleets that could lead to major cost savings and a greener railroad. Focuses on the SD40-2 locomotive. |
| Natural Gas – Dual Fuel Locomotives Developments and Field Demonstrations | 98-112 | 2015 | New Technologies | Explains the advantages of converting existing diesel powered locomotives to dual fuel, diesel and natural gas configurations. |
| Hidden Costs of Locomotive Modernization | 113-117 | 2015 | New Technologies | Provides a quick overview of various potential pitfalls and benefits that should be considered by locomotive owners and operators during the planning stages of any locomotive modernization program. |
| Measuring the Value of Installing Solid Lube Sticks on Locomotives | 122-132 | 2015 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Explains the observed benefits of installing solid lube sticks on locomotives, and includes pictures and diagrams. |
| NS CNG Locomotive Test Program | 133-142 | 2015 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Documents Norfolk Southern’s experience with converting a GP38-2 locomotive to burn natural gas. |
| Utilizing Modern Electronics to Assist with Mechanical Maintenance Planning | 143-146 | 2015 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Gives an overview on how to plan mechanical related maintenance by utilizing modern electronics to monitor past and real-time events to predict maintenance concerns, potential haul failures, and minimize “NO PROBLEM FOUND” issues when locomotives are back-shopped. |
| Shore Connection Heating Systems for Locomotives Electric Heating Systems with New Implementation Techniques | 147-154 | 2015 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Details Norfolk Southern’s approach to implementing commercially available Shore Connection Systems and instances where the systems are most effective. |
| Locomotive Exhaust Emission Regulations: Is Tier 5 Next? | 156-164 | 2015 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Reviews the US-EPA’s stated intent while developing the Tier 4 locomotive exhaust emissions standards, how locomotive emissions standards have progressed from Tier 0 to Tier 4, and how the Tier 4 emissions standards compare to current on-highway truck emissions standards. |
| Railroad’s Fuel Options, Research and Literature Review | 168-184 | 2015 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Reviews several research and literature review papers about alternative fuels and their possible applications in locomotives. |
| Transmix-Derived Fuel for Locomotives | 185-191 | 2015 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Covers the EPA regulations related to locomotive diesel fuel, how transmix-derived LM fuel is produced and handled, and why it is important to keep this fuel from being dispensed into Tier 4 locomotives. |
| Energy Outlook to 2040 | 192-206 | 2015 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Provides ExonMobil’s long-term view of global energy demand in supply. Its findings help guide the company’s investments, which support its business strategy. |
| “CORES” Long term assets… What is their Value? | 210-216 | 2015 | Diesel Material Control | Discusses the various attributes that determine the actual value of core materia |
| Innovations in Material Storage/Management | 217-221 | 2015 | Diesel Material Control | Gives examples of ways that different companies have innovated safer and more practical designs for material storage management. |
| Bar Coding: A 2015 Update and Beyond | 222-228 | 2015 | Diesel Material Control | Details the methods of Bar coding, as well as their applications in material tracking and management. |
| Wheel Profiling Processes in Relation to Whell Climb in Switch Point Guards | 26-32 | 2016 | Shop Safety, Processes and Equipment | Reviews several recommendations with regards to wheel truing processes and machines. |
| ECP Beyond Train-Handling – How ECP System Development Can Enhance Other Locomotive Technologies | 38-45 | 2016 | New Technologies | Contains a general discussion of the background of ECP implementation and operation. |
| New Developments in Diesel-Electric Passenger Locomotives | 46-59 | 2016 | New Technologies | Provides an overview of the recent history of Commuter and Intercity Passenger Locomotives, the new regulations and procurements that have affected the market, and an overview of the next generation of these locomotives. |
| Diesel Emissions Control Technologies – A Post-Tier 4 Review | 60-68 | 2016 | New Technologies | Continues the 2011 paper entitled “EPA Tier 4 Locomotive Development Status Update” Discusses the actual current implementation by the various diesel locomotive engine manufacturers and how they have applied these technologies. |
| Stuck in the Middle With You: PTC and Short Line Railroads | 72-78 | 2016 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Gives an introduction to Positive Train Control (PTC), and explains how it works with different railroad classes with a focus on the effects it has on short rail lines and details some of the challenges and training required by the program. |
| Troubleshooting Multiplexer Faults on EMD Locomotives Using EM2000 | 79-98 | 2016 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Explains how locomotives equipped with the EMD EM2000 computer system have found a way to lessen the strain of having many IO parameters to monitor by multiplexing several digital inputs to one digital input channel. Also explains the difficulty in troubleshooting errors in such circuits. |
| Battery Technology Within the Diesel Starting Industry | 100-106 | 2016 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Identifies the basic operation of each battery technology and its respective advantages and challenges. |
| Supercapacitor Safety | 108-117 | 2016 | Diesel Electrical Maintenance | Answers questions about the current safety practices and how they can be improved with regard to the use of high energy sources. |
| Locomotive Horsepower | 122-128 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Describes the various horsepower terms as they aply to a locomotive and how the terms were developed. |
| Best Practices Locomotive Fuel Spill | 129-138 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Discusses how to avoid fuel spill, and specifically focuses on the fueling nozzle and its relevance to the overall performance of the system. |
| Locomotive Metrics Reliability/Availability Is there a neeed for a Standard Definition? | 140-143 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Discusses various metrics and the similarities and differences in the metrics and in the data that they collect. |
| SD59MX EGR Performance Reports | 144-151 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Gives a report on the performance of SD60M locomotives that had 16 cylinder 710G3A tier 0 engines that were converted to 12 cylinder 710G3B-EXP engines with Exhaust Gas Recirculation to lower the Nox. |
| High Pressure Common Rail Fuel Injection System and Potential Issues | 152-164 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Reviews components that make up a High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) system, helps explain why HPCR systems are needed for modern diesel engines, discusses some of the potential issues and failure modes, and covers some basic safety information. |
| GE Dual Fuel Locomotive Development | 165-182 | 2016 | Diesel Mechanical Maintenance | Explains the program started in 2012 by GE to develp a dual fuel locomotive that would maximize the substitution rate while still being able to run on 100% diesel and their findings. |
| Defining LMOA Generation 7 Engine Oil Performance Category | 186-196 | 2016 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Defines the Generation 7 engine oil performance category. |
| Natural Gas for Rail Applications: LNG Fuel Quality Considerations | 197-213 | 2016 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Reviews the basic properties of natural gas fuel and the fundamentals of its quality. Compares natural gas and diesel as fuels for the rail industry, and gives recommendations on a path forward for standardizing fuel quality measurements. |
| Defects of Fuel Composition on In-Service Engine Oil Properties | 214-225 | 2016 | Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental | Reviews the attempt to discover if there are statistically detectable changes – of practical significance – in the crankcase oil’s condition, due to variations in diesel fuel composition, and temperature differences across the seasons. |