I think we all agree that we should take all reasonable measures to protect the enviroment. But it is interesting that railroads have become a target of being "dirty" - yet no credit is given them for how fuel efficient they are in the first place. It would be interesting to know what percentage of emissions in an urban area are due to railroads comared to trucks, and then calculate the emissions per net ton-mile for each.

Remember when Baldwin, F-M and Alco locomotives were purged from railroad fleets due to a combination of reasons, with one being the railroad could eliminate the parts inventory for them and not be required to train personnel to repair them? We now have EMD (with 645, 710 and some 567s) and GE (FDL and GEVO) - meaning most Class 1s have 3 to 5 engines to support. Now add gen-sets or low-emission engines, and you might have Cummins, CAT, Detroit/MTU or Deutz prime movers - and sometimes several models due to size or emission generations within each brand.

I really wonder how railroads will like the extra maintenance and issues with the new equipment? They barely put up with the 92 day inspection and maintenance, and at least one petition was filed to extend that. No doubt as gen-set engines come due for heavy overhaul or engine replacement the EPA will insist on the latest emissions, adding more warts to the loco fleet.

When I was down near San Diego last summer, there was a blurb on TV about how well the emissions equipment on San Diego's fire trucks are working:

[www.1strespondernews.com]

[www.firefighternation.com]

From a document created apparently by the fire department themselves - notice the out of service rates being stated:

[docs.sandiego.gov]