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transport tips continued must not slow down the process of loading; (2) It must not twist or turn in the wind, of which there is plenty in Wyoming; (3) It must not freeze up or malfunction whenever there is snow or ice or rain; (4) It must not deform or fly off at maximum train speeds; (5) It must open and close in all kinds of weather without delaying the dumping process; (6) It must provide a safe and secure retrofit to a rail car; and (7) It must not cost so much no one would ever buy it. Fuel Savings & Coal Dust Control In 2010, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, working under DOE funding, published a report titled Fuel Savings & Aerodynamic Drag Reduction from Rail Car Covers. The report concluded the potential for energy savings by reducing the aerodynamic drag of rail cars is significant. The focus was not the efficacy of dust retention by rail car covers, but the potential for fuel savings and the resultant reduction in air pollution. The measurements were made in the NASA-Ames 15- x 15-in. low-speed wind tunnel at a 65 m/s free-stream velocity with and without simulated coal in all cars. The cover designs tested yielded an average drag reduction of 43% relative to empty cars corresponding to an estimated round-trip fuel savings of 9%. What does it really mean to have covered rail cars? The obvious answer is that dust control would be vastly improved, even over cars sprayed with surfactant. The not-so-obvious answer is a tremendous annual savings in fuel expenses and a parallel reduction in greenhouse gases. The 9% fuel savings could save the two western railroads between $150 million and $300 million annually, depending on fuel costs and numbers of coal trains operating. While the advantages of covers look good on paper, who will take the first step toward providing fleets of covered rail cars? Coal-burning utilities own a high percentage of the rail cars that serve their power plants, but the rail cars going to the export market will not be owned by utilities. Who would own them, the railroads or the coal producers? Who would spend the money to fit or retrofit existing fleets with covers, or to buy new fleets of covered cars? Gambrel is a coal transportation consultant and writer. Formerly the director of transportation for Peabody Energy, he was also involved in the development and management of export coal terminals. He may be reached at bunkgambrel@earthlink.net. May 2013 www.coalage.com 23