Dual fuel Helps Wine Train Protect Napa Valley’s Clean Air

Vincent DeDomenico has a habit of taking bold action in business. When the former owner of Ghirardelli Chocolate – whose family founded the Golden Grain Macaroni Company and its most famous product, Rice-a-Roni – decided to offer excursion train service in California’s pristine Napa Valley, he called APG.

DeDomenico wanted to resolve concerns about diesel train service in the Napa Valley, where clean air and abundant sunshine make the region an ideal home for many of North American’s best-known wine growers.

He knew the answer was Dual fuel, which allows diesel engines to run on a combination of diesel fuel and clean-burning natural gas. Dual fuel virtually eliminates diesel soot, which health officials link to many respiratory illnesses; and nitrogen oxide, a prime ingredient in smog.

With Dual fuel powering the Napa Valley Wine Train, the area’s skies remain clear and customers aboard the train enjoy fresh air and spectacular views. Excursions began in September 1989.

“The Napa Valley Wine Train travels through fabulous, carefully tended vineyards, so it’s important to be environmentally sensitive,” DeDomenico says.

Thanks to Dual fuel, DeDomenico was able to preserve a 1950-vintage diesel locomotive, thereby protecting a part of the region’s transportation history for the next generation.

“We weren’t aware of anyone converting a locomotive from this era before,” said DeDomenico. “It was a very unique project. That’s why we called APG. This was not easy stuff, and when you’re dealing with ‘never-been-done-before’ stuff, you turn to a company like APG.”

Dual fuel has economic as well as environmental advantages. Converting to Dual fuel is significantly less expensive than altering an engine to run on 100% natural gas. And since supplies of diesel stretch much further, there is no need to pay the high cost of additional diesel storage tanks.

“This is a great way to preserve the past while protecting the future,” DeDomenico says.

For more information about APG’s Dual fuel technology, call 866-994-7697.