P42 Miles Per Gallon

[Ryan]

I know that Amtrak refuels in havre, mt.

Minot as well.

 

[BCL]

The P42DC prime mover engine has a V configuration diesel with 16 cylinders and each cylinder has a displacement of 10.95 liters (668 cu in). Total displacement is 175.2 liters (10,690 cu in.).

http://www.salvex.com/listings/listing_detail.cfm?aucID=182946333

Says they're 6 feet wide and 8 feet high. I'm guessing salvaged from freight locomotives. These three look like the turbos are in front.

 

[amtkstn]

The Chiefs get their locomotives topped east of KC in the rail yard.

 

[Guest]

how far can a train go on fuel? like how many times would the locomotives on the Sunset Limited or Empire Builder need a fill up?

A P42DC has a 2200 gallon tank. I'm guessing that both segments of the Empire Builder can go the entire route without refueling. I think the California Zephyr or Texas Eagle are longer and won't require a fuel stop.

As far as the fuel goes, I thought it was No. 2 fuel oil. Someone told me that it's practically identical to No. 2 diesel except for the addition of a red dye to indicate that it wasn't taxed as a road fuel. The dye is supposed to indicate that it was used illegally if found in an over the road truck.

Don't know about railroad, but the red dye is put into diesel sold for farm use and delivered to the farm by tank truck.

 

[BCL]

how far can a train go on fuel? like how many times would the locomotives on the Sunset Limited or Empire Builder need a fill up?

A P42DC has a 2200 gallon tank. I'm guessing that both segments of the Empire Builder can go the entire route without refueling. I think the California Zephyr or Texas Eagle are longer and won't require a fuel stop.

As far as the fuel goes, I thought it was No. 2 fuel oil. Someone told me that it's practically identical to No. 2 diesel except for the addition of a red dye to indicate that it wasn't taxed as a road fuel. The dye is supposed to indicate that it was used illegally if found in an over the road truck.

Don't know about railroad, but the red dye is put into diesel sold for farm use and delivered to the farm by tank truck.

This company lists six different fuel oils dyed red. One is "Grade No. 2 Diesel S-500 Dyed L-M", where that stands for locomotive-marine.

http://www.amref.com/products/fuels.aspx

 

[Bob Dylan]

The Texas Eagle ( One P-42) refuels in Ft. Worth and St. Louis on its run between Chicago and San Antonio. On one trip they "forgot" to refuel and we had to wait in Taylor for 2 hours for a fuel truck to refuel us!!

The SWC ( 2 P-42s)fuels up, as was said, in Albuqurque, and WEST of Kansas City in the freight yard on its run between LA and Chicago.

The Sunset Ltd.(2 P-42s) fuels up in San Antonio, El Paso, and if needed, in Tucson between NOL and LAX.

 

[KmH]

The P42DC prime mover engine has a V configuration diesel with 16 cylinders and each cylinder has a displacement of 10.95 liters (668 cu in). Total displacement is 175.2 liters (10,690 cu in.).

http://www.salvex.com/listings/listing_detail.cfm?aucID=182946333

Says they're 6 feet wide and 8 feet high. I'm guessing salvaged from freight locomotives. These three look like the turbos are in front.

Yep. They are big.

I was quoting the displacement of the cylinders, not the outer dimensions of of the engine.

 

[Thirdrail7]

What is the average miles per gallon for 2 P42s pulling a "typical" 9-10 car Superliner consist? I know this probably isn't a straight forward easy to calculate figure but something in the ballpark. And if 2 engines are doing the work versus 1, does each engine get "better" mileage since the load is shared?

I would think the engine that is using HEP would expend more fuel than one that is used purely for traction power, particularly in lower throttle positions. Additionally, there are strict(?) policies about how many units are allowed online at any given time for traction power. At other times, they must be isolated.

 

[KmH]

Amtrak's diesel trains average 2.3 gallons per mile.

Since Amtrak doesn't haul freight, lets think of the mileage in terms of people.

On a LD train - Engineer, Conductor, Assistant Conductor, OBS staff, - LSA Diner, Chef, Food Specialists, SA, LSA - Cafe/Lounge, 1 Train Attendant- Coach (TAC), 3 Train Attendant - Sleeper Car (TASC). Say 14 people.

Lets say 30 pax per sleeper car w/3 sleeper cars or 90 pax,

and close to 2 of 3 coach car seats filled for 150 coach pax.

14 + 90 + 150 =255 people moved by 2.3 gallons of diesel fuel per mile.

That's 0.009 gallons per person, per mile or 100 mpg per person.

Lets drop the employees and just consider 240 passengers - 2.3 gpm = 0.00906 gpp or 95.8 mpg/person.

Oh! And with 2 P42DC engines, a LD train has 32 cylinders for power, motive and/or HEP.

By the way. 255 people at an average weight of 180 each + 50 lbs of baggage = 56,100 lbs (28.05 tons)

Does anyone know what the airlines use as the average weight figure for people these days?

 

[Alexandria Nick]

Does anyone know what the airlines use as the average weight figure for people these days?

170(!), but they're talking about revising that way, way up. I hear conjecture it could hit 215.

 

[battalion51]

What is the average miles per gallon for 2 P42s pulling a "typical" 9-10 car Superliner consist? I know this probably isn't a straight forward easy to calculate figure but something in the ballpark. And if 2 engines are doing the work versus 1, does each engine get "better" mileage since the load is shared?

I would think the engine that is using HEP would expend more fuel than one that is used purely for traction power, particularly in lower throttle positions. Additionally, there are strict(?) policies about how many units are allowed online at any given time for traction power. At other times, they must be isolated.

Running HEP is equivalent to running in the 6th notch (of 8) all the time. There is obviously fuel being spent to provide HEP versus just running for traction.

 

[Shortline]

how far can a train go on fuel? like how many times would the locomotives on the Sunset Limited or Empire Builder need a fill up?

A P42DC has a 2200 gallon tank. I'm guessing that both segments of the Empire Builder can go the entire route without refueling. I think the California Zephyr or Texas Eagle are longer and won't require a fuel stop.

As far as the fuel goes, I thought it was No. 2 fuel oil. Someone told me that it's practically identical to No. 2 diesel except for the addition of a red dye to indicate that it wasn't taxed as a road fuel. The dye is supposed to indicate that it was used illegally if found in an over the road truck.

Just between San Antonio and Chicago, the TE is refueled at FTW and STL.

 

[user 1215]

What is the average miles per gallon for 2 P42s pulling a "typical" 9-10 car Superliner consist? I know this probably isn't a straight forward easy to calculate figure but something in the ballpark. And if 2 engines are doing the work versus 1, does each engine get "better" mileage since the load is shared?

I would think the engine that is using HEP would expend more fuel than one that is used purely for traction power, particularly in lower throttle positions. Additionally, there are strict(?) policies about how many units are allowed online at any given time for traction power. At other times, they must be isolated.

Running HEP is equivalent to running in the 6th notch (of 8) all the time. There is obviously fuel being spent to provide HEP versus just running for traction.

Without looking, I believe it is 170 for crew and 190 for pax.
That seems like excessive consumption. With two locos, it's 98 mpg per pax? Or with one? If only one, then we're looking at 50 mpg per pax when two locos are used (disregarding efficiencies) which ain't that great and comes close to what I get on the highway in my gasoline powered Suburban with my family.

 

[KmH]

Amtrak's diesel trains average 2.3 gallons per mile.

I was calculating by 'train', not per locomotive.