Biofuel of diesel and beef byproduct will power passenger train through cattle country

Amtrak and the Oklahoma and Texas transportation departments hyave announced a year-long test to see if the Heartland Flyer, a passenger train that runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, can run on biodiesel and beef byproduct, Jay F. Marks of The Oklahoman reports. The test is funded by a $274,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.

The train will use a blend of 20 percent byproduct and 80 percent biodiesel. Officials say it will requires little to no engine modification, Marks reports. "At the end of the test period, Amtrak will measure the fuel’s effect on the locomotive’s valves and gaskets," Marks writes. "The rail operator also will collect locomotive exhaust emissions for analysis with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency protocols." (Read more)