Class I Freight Rail Fixed Fueling System Upgrades
TRC was retained by a major Class 1 railroad to prepare the designs needed to upgrade its fixed fueling systems at two facilities in the Midwest.
In Wisconsin, a project was undertaken that reduced the fuel storage capacity for freight locomotives to approximately 150,000 gallons using three tanks installed in a new containment dike. The tanks are connected with piping located at pad level so that the tanks can be isolated to operate the system while one tank is out of service for inspection/cleaning or repair.
The previous pump building was replaced with a new pump house incorporating a pump room and an motor control center (MCC) equipment room. The diesel fuel distribution system was upgraded to provide for maintenance, fuel filtering and air elimination. A direct truck fueling (DTF) system was installed in conjunction with the existing diesel fuel truck unloading system and included fuel filtering and fuel metering. Fuel is pumped from the truck off-load system through new diesel fuel oil piping to the tanks.
The upgraded system is controlled using a new PLC-based control system installed in the new pump house. An in-line pulsation dampener on the overhead piping running to the locomotive fueling building was removed from the system and replaced with welded piping, as were all piping sections that used flanged connections. Off-loading and locomotive fueling pumps are operated via new start/stop stations located at the fueling stanchions/arms. The original lube, journal and compressor oil systems were demolished and new systems connected to the oil cabinet via new piping were installed in conjunction with the existing piping.
At a Minnesota facility, TRC designed a new fueling system that stores 80,000 gallons using two tanks within a new containment dike. The system’s associated piping system will be constructed in a manner that the tanks can be isolated to operate the system while one tank is out of service for inspection/cleaning or repair. The pumping system also includes provisions for maintenance, fuel filtering and air elimination. A truck loading and off-loading pump system with fuel filtering, air elimination and metering will be installed on a new concrete truck containment pad adjacent to the new pump house building.
Fuel is pumped from the new truck off-load system through new diesel fuel oil piping to the tanks. The new system will be controlled using a new PLC based control system installed in a new pump house. Truck loading and off-loading fueling pumps will be operated via new start/stop stations located at the fueling arms at the new pump house building. A drain piping system connects the containment dike and truck pad with valves to isolate each system.
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