Pacific Diesel
An Introduction to Biodiesel
With gas prices increasing and growing environmental awareness, the need to consider alternate energy and fuel sources are becoming a necessity. One alternative is the use of Biodiesel fuel, which is becoming more and more popular today.
Because Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel, made from 100% natural, 100% renewable vegetable sources, its uses in today's society may surprise you. Below are nine ways Biodiesel is being used. Some of which you may never have realized.
1) Biodiesel Car Rental - Yes that's right. A Maui and Los Angeles car rental rents cars that run on Biodiesel. These cars get between 400 and 800 miles per tank! Not bad when consider the price of gas these days.
2) Home heating fuel - More people are taking a look at Biodiesel as an alternative for heating their home. Most oil-fired or boiler furnaces can use Biodiesel (B20), which is a fuel made of 80 percent traditional heating oil and 20 percent Biodiesel. Some people are getting their furnaces adapted to be able to burn B100, a fuel made entirely of vegetable oils, which burns much cleaner than traditional heating oil.
3) Electricity Generation - Diesel generators that produce electricity are now running on Biodiesel fuel. A superior alternative to the typical coal burning electricity generating plants currently being used in the United States. Running on Biodiesel is an inexpensive, clean and renewable way of creating electricity.
4) Trucking Industry - More and more truckers are switching from diesel fuel to Biodiesel fuel. The benefits are numerous not to mention the advantage of helping the environment and reducing our dependency on foreign oil, while saving money.
5) Agriculture - Not only a producer of Biodiesel, but also a consumer. Tractors, reapers, tillers, pickers, conveyors, generators, pumps, and irrigation systems which normally uses diesel fuel, now use Biodiesel to fuel their work, bringing agriculture full circle from producer to consumer.
6) Marine Vehicles - Commercial fleets such as ferries, recreational yachts, sailboats, and motor boats are all candidates for Biodiesel. For example Pacific Whale Foundation, located in Hawaii, use Biodiesel bin their boats.
7) Tax Incentive - The IRS is offering tax incentives to anyone that produce and use Biodiesel fuel. The US Government is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by giving producers of Biodiesel fuel government funds. The tax incentive works to help tax paying customers by lowering the cost of the fuel
bill.
Lubrication Additive - Because Biodiesel is a better lubricant than current low-sulfur petroleum, fuel injectors and other types of fuel pumps can rely on Biodiesel fuel for lubrication. With the right additives, engine performance can also be enhanced, making engines last longer. Other numerous applications can also make use of it's lubricate properties, such as concrete forms and asphalt trucks. Its solvent properties also make it a safe parts cleaner, reducing skin and eye irritation associated with other cleaners.
9) Cleaner Environment - Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by up to 80%. Because of this, Biodiesel has the potential to reduce air toxics and cancer causing compounds. Something we all can live with! If spilled, it will quickly degrade into natural organic residues, without polluting the environment.
About the Author
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Pacific Diesel
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 UNION PACIFIC RR SD70M HO SCALE BRASS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE OVERLAND MODELS INC  US $500.00
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 BRASS Union Pacific U50D Diesel US $1,100.00
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 WP WESTERN PACIFIC SD70Ace DIESEL HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE DCC SOUND MTH HO Scale US $399.95
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 MP MISSOURI PACIFIC SD70Ace DIESEL HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE DCC SOUND MTH HO Scale US $399.95
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 HO BRASS CB UNION PACIFIC 3000HP SNOW THROWER DIESEL W POWERED ROTARY BLADES US $389.95
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 HO SD70ACE DIESEL ENGINE WESTERN PACIFIC 1983 MTH TRAINS 8020081 US $358.88
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 HO SCALE UNION PACIFIC DIESEL DIGITAL COMMANDER ELECTRIC TRAIN SET US $329.99
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 MTH HO Scale Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Locomotive NEW DCC SND 8453 US $329.95
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 Marklin HO 3781 digital Texas Pacific A A Diesel Locomotive Set TP US $299.00
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 HO Scale Union Pacific 9807 Dash 9 44CW Diesel Locomotive By Athearn US $281.45
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 Marklin HO 37610 Union Pacific Diesel Locomotive w box NIB US $275.00
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 HO Scale U50 UP UNION PACIFIC 51 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE 5000hp RTR DCC READY US $269.95
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 HO Scale Missouri Pacific 8007 Alco PA Diesel Locomotive SET By Proto 2000 US $258.49
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 MTH 80 2174 1 HO Scale GP 35 Diesel w DCC Proto Sound 30 Union Pacific 759 US $249.95
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 MTH 80 2175 1 HO Scale GP 35 Diesel w DCC Proto Sound 30 Southern Pacific US $249.95
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 MTH 80 2176 1 HO Scale GP 35 Diesel w DCC Proto Sound 30 Southern Pacific US $249.95
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 MTH 80 2177 1 HO Scale GP 35 Diesel w DCC Proto Sound 30 Southern Pacific US $249.95
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 MTH SD70ACE Diesel Engine Southern Pacific 1996 DCC w Proto Sound 30 US $219.99
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 41556 PROTO 2000 Diesel EMD GP20 Union PacificR 487 US $218.00
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 ATHEARN UNION PACIFIC U50 Diesel Road 51 Item 88676 other numbers available US $210.00
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 ATHEARN SOUTHERN PACIFIC U50 Diesel Road 9952 Item 88680 US $210.00
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 ATHEARN SOUTHERN PACIFIC U50 Diesel Road 9950 Item 88678 US $210.00
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 10000915 Atlas Diesel U30C Phase 3 Union Pacific 2862 US $203.00
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 10000916 Atlas Diesel U30C Phase 3 Union Pacific 2889 US $203.00
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 Bachmann HO Diesel Digital Commander Union Pacific US $199.99
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 Athearn 88674 UNION PACIFIC GE U50 Diesel Locomotive 36 Standard DC NIB US $199.98
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Is it really true that an average Pacific, Mikado, or even Northern did not develop much horsepower ?
Compared to your modern Dash 8 or newer diesel ?
It depends. There are of course variables in play.
The engines you have referred to were eclipsed in starting tractive effort by even a first generation SD40 or even a brace of the venerable F7s.
Pacific's were designed primarily for passenger service and are pretty unimpressive insofar as stats are concerned. The heaviest of these as out-shopped by Baldwin in 1928, with a total weight of 313,800 lbs. and boasting 45,850 ft/lbs of tractive effort, compared to 105,000 for the lowly SD40.
The "Mikes" were sub-categorized as "light" or "heavy" under USRA (the forerunner to the FRA) specifications. Of the heavy Mikados, Schenectady out-shopped the largest between 1918 and 1923, tipping the scales at 335,300 lbs. with 60,500 ft/lbs of tractive effort.
Northern's were equally at home in freight or passenger service and were pretty husky beasts. The heaviest of this class was out-shopped by Lima in 1942, with a total weight of 483,200 lbs. and 78,650 ft/lbs. of starting effort. In addition, most of this class were equipped with "booster"s. This was a two cylinder affair that powered the trailing trucks under the firebox and produced an additional 13,000 ft/lbs. of much needed torque at starting.
So, these machines were totally eclipsed by the time the second generation of diesel-electrics started plying the rails of the USA.
Good question.