• Train powered by beef tallow by Amtrak

    • Beef-Powered-Passenger-Train.jpg
    You aren’t the only one who loves a nice juicy beef steak. This train loves it just as much as you do. To run between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer is powered up 20% by a beef based biofuel. 80% is powered up using regular diesel. With a grant of $274,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration, this train will run for the next 12 months on this route.


    Using cow tallow or fat from cattle, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions are reduced by 10%. It also decreases particulates by 15% and sulfates by 20%. This sure is a cleaner alternative compared to diesel. And no, cows will not be killed specifically for this purpose. The fat is obtained from animals that are to be used for meat. The guys at PETA are sure to skip travelling by this train though.
    [FastCompany]

    Posted in Topics:Transport, Tags: , on April 27, 2010