New locomotives ensure energy-efficient transport

Fortification Campbell's railroad operations really are a key part of this objective to remain a premier energy projection platform capable of implementing troops in 36 hrs.

The installation's rail navy recently received two brand new locomotives to enhance current abilities to "transport unit freight, military vehicles, containers as well as oversized and outsized shipment to and from coaching sites/ports in the most affordable way, " said Charles St. John, installation yransportation officer.

"Fort Campbell is exclusive in its geographic location within the U. S., " this individual said. "The proximity towards the deploying seaport and main training sites is relevant for your movement of Fort Campbell's military cargo in assisting the 101st Airborne Department mission, deployments and exercising. "

Locomotives provide self-propelled power to push or draw other railroad cars. The brand new additions are known as "GenSet locomotives, " both N-ViroMotive model 3GS-21B, manufactured by the actual National Railway Equipment Organization, headquartered in Mount Vernon, Illinois. GenSet is short for generator-set locomotives.

"The [Department of Defense] searching for to update the train engine fleet with 21st millennium technology, as well as complying along with [Environmental Protection Agency] standards, " stated Andy Looney, Fort Campbell rail operations supervisor.

The newest additions will replace the Electro-Motive Division, or EMD, product GP-10 locomotives that have been operating since the 1950s. Fort Campbell acquired them in the nineties after they were completely remanufactured. Of the three older train locomotives, plans call for only one to become kept as a backup.

"They will likely be re-purposed to another set up in need of better equipment, inch said Looney of the other people.

The GenSet locomotives, with a weight in at 130 plenty a piece, arrived at Fort Campbell in early February. Fort Campbell was one of the installations to get them from the Department associated with Defense and the U. H. Transportation Command as part of fresh equipment fielding, St. Steve said.

The GenSets tend to be rated at 2, one hundred horsepower, a full 400 more than models they are replacing. The actual GenSets are also 10 loads heavier and 6 ft longer than the GP-10s. Additional horsepower is critical, as Looney said "a little additional pulling power" is needed much more now than in the past.

"The Military is using some tactical automobiles now that are bigger and also heavier than what was used once the GP-10s were new to Ft Campbell, " he mentioned. "Some of the trains we now have moved over the last couple of years possess put a strain on our aged locomotives. "

Despite becoming bigger and yielding a lot more horsepower, the GenSets provide better traction and energy efficiency, Looney said. Also, they are in line with a more energy-conscious Navy. The GP-10 locomotives had been grandfathered in, Looney explained, not meeting current ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY guidelines.

"The old engines use one large V-16 engine paired with a power generator to power the electrical traction motors at the tires that runs continuously, inches Looney said.

"The brand-new locomotives use three models of smaller I-6 motors paired with its own generator, in support of one engine set is actually running until the computer sensory faculties a need for more power, very well he said. "Then it is going to start the second and 3rd engine as needed if the load increases. It's a lot like active fuel management within your car or truck. [National Train Equipment] claims the 40 to 60 % reduction in fuel consumption normally. "

The new locomotives are usually completely computerized, which distinguishes them from the durable, GP-10 workhorses, built long before the particular advent of the digital age group. However , Looney and his team it's still able to conduct day-to-day servicing as needed to change the essential oil or lights, as well as gas the locomotives and more.

The particular GenSet locomotives will go in to service immediately, with their main use helping "to shift tactical vehicles and delivery containers by rail, micron Looney said. One teach can move the same amount regarding freight as 70 in order to 100 tractor trailers and may stretch more than a mile long, Looney said, which displays the importance of keeping Fort Campbell's rail fleet up-to-date. 2 locomotives are usually used in combination to pull freight on Découplé Campbell, with some 40 kilometers of Army railroad songs located both on post along with leading to Hopkinsville.

"Rail is surely a valuable asset to Fortification Campbell in terms of rapidly implementing and large training exercises, inch Looney said. "Logistically it is the most efficient way to get considerable amounts of cargo moved to aid the warfighters' mission. inches

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