What should be a gas-engine locomotive

Abstract

Today, no one doubts the necessity of widespread applying of gas fuel both in industry and in transport. The price, environmental safety and availability of this type of fuel play a crucial role. Russian Railways has also taken a number of decisions to develop the design and construction of gas-fueled locomotives. The work is being carried out in two directions: locomotives will be created that run on gas fuel using gas turbine and gas piston engines with full replacement of diesel fuel, as well as gas locomotives with diesel engines that run on a gas-diesel cycle. The latter are attractive because the gas-diesel engine has higher technical and economic characteristics and can be easily transformed into a locomotive running on diesel fuel, which can be of strategic importance.