CSR Sponsored by the American Boiler Manufacturers Association

CSR announces a sponsorship from the American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA), the oldest national manufacturing trade association in the U.S.  Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2013, this sponsorship speaks to the efficacy and importance of the research CSR is pursuing.  

"To have a trade association of such strong technical and marketplace background excited by and supportive of CSR's research is really an encouraging sign. It is indicative of the growing support our group has garnered since its launching this time last year," said CSR Director of Engineering Shaun T. McMahon. "Not merely a benefit in terms of monetary contribution, the support ABMA and its members are providing CSR is a verification of the efficacy, timeliness and importance of the research our organization pursues."

ABMA President and Chief Executive Officer W. Randall Rawson stated, "As the ABMA enters its 126th year, the work of CSR not only complements ABMA's heritage of boiler-generated, steam-driven locomotion and power generation, it promises meaningful, still-to-come concomitant advances in boiler technology, applications and fuel flexibility. It is something with which ABMA and its member companies need to be associated and actively participate, and we are delighted to become a proud and active contributor to the overall effort."

Share

Project 130 Provides Benefits to Preservation

In a recent letter of support, Railroad Artifact Preservation Society (RAPS), the restoration group undertaking the overhaul of former A.T. & S.F. locomotive 5000, exclaims that they "...would like to commend [CSR] and its efforts to rescue former Santa Fe Railway steam locomotive #3463."  

Aside from providing support for the "rescue" of locomotive 3463 and the actions the Great Overland Station took to see that the locomotive was kept safe, RAPS President Sam D. Teague also complimented CSR on the research it is undertaking.

He writes:

...since your organization is clearly aimed at technological development, two of those advances will have a direct, positive impact on preserving other operable steam locomotives. First, the sustainably‐sourced, carbon‐neutral, low‐ash torrefied biomass fuel will provide a clean, lower cost, and readily substitutable alternative to traditional coal. Second, the advanced water treatment program will vastly increase boiler life.

Though CSR is a research and development organization not a railroad preservation group, the work it is undertaking and the careful way it will modify its 1937-built locomotive provides benefit to railroad preservation overall. That said, CSR is always happy to receive support from preservation groups that forsee a benefit in the work it is pursuing and the technologies it refines.

Click on the image of 5000's number board above or this link to read the entire letter.

Share

Article "Sustainable Steam" Published in Steam Railway Magazine

The final issue of Great Britain's Steam Railway Magazine in 2012 featured a three-page article written by CSR Executives Davidson Ward, Shaun McMahon, Rob Mangels and John Rhodes.  Thanks to the generosity of editor Gary Boyd-Hope, CSR is able to offer that article to view here on the CSR website. Take a look by clicking this link or the image at right.

Steam Railway was also the magazine who featured an article about CSR when the project was announced in May of 2012 labeling locomotive 3463 as a "biofuel-powered monster."  Biofuel-powered it will be; monster it certainly will not!

Memories of Warmer Weather

It's been eight months since CSR announced its project to bring 3463 back to steam... with modernizations and a change of fuel that will make it a world's first.  As part of its preparations prior to announcing the project, CSR sent a crew out to Topeka to scrape rust, chip paint and cover the locomotive in a layer of paint to stop further corrosion prior to its journey to Minnesota for reconstruction.  While that move planning is in full force at this time, CSR thought showing a little timelapse of its efforts in Topeka would be a nice break from the monotony of winter.

Share

CSR Slated to Present at Two National Industry Fora

It appears January will be a busy month for CSR.  Davidson Ward, CSR President, has been invited to speak at two industry-level functions this month.

On January 15, he will be representing CSR and its partners in a “Six Minute Pitch” competition before the Transportation Research Board at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. Five transportation entrepreneurs were selected to perform succinct presentations on a new technology that can revolutionize the transportation industry.

Later that week, Ward will represent CSR at the American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA) annual convention in West Palm Beach, Florida as a speaker to its Alternative Energy Product/Market Group. The hour-long presentation will deal with the fundamentals of modern steam locomotion, with specific attention paid to boiler systems, combustion technologies and torrefied biomass.

CSR is thrilled to have been selected to present at both venues, and welcomes others to consider hosting it to continue to educate the public on its project and the technologies it is promoting. Combined with the “White Paper Program,” CSR is working to spread knowledge of modern steam technology and refocus the conversation to a technology that has yet all but been ignored in the modern transportation dialogue.

Share

Want greater detail? We've got it!

CSR is pleased to announce its new "White Paper Program." Working with the University of Minnesota (U of M), the Porta Family Foundation Archives, and other not-for-profit rail and biomass research organizations, CSR's White Paper Program aims to bring scholarly works pertinent to biofuel, modern steam locomotive and transportation research into the public discourse.

As its first White Paper, CSR chose "The Case for a Better American Steam Locomotive," written by foremost modern steam mechanical engineer L.D. Porta in the mid-1970's in response to the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and two articles published inTrains Magazine during the 1960's .  Originally intended to be published in Trains, this paper deals with aspects U.S. and European locomotive design and the need for alternatively-fueled motive power (coal was popular at that time).

Of specific interest today, at a time whenUnion Pacific is discussing the possibility of rebuilding one of their "Big Boy" locomotives, this article discusses how, through careful thermodynamic design, a Big Boy could produce in excess of 10,000 drawbar horsepower.  Not simply a "pie in the sky" argument, similar engineering principles were applied to the South African Railways 4-8-4 No. 3450 a few years after this article was written, resulting in 40% higher drawbar horsepower, a 30% reduction in coal consumption and a 30% reduction in water demand, not to mention decreased maintenance cost.

So, enjoy this paper and look forward to other technical documents CSR will post on its website over the coming months.  And, if you have yet to join our email list or sign up as a supporter, please consider doing so in the closing days of 2012!  As with other not-for-profits, every bit of support helps CSR meet its goals and continue to provide innovative research and compelling papers.