80年代初,由于对天然气需求量的减少,迫使美国的公用事业公司和管道公司去寻求新的市场。当时用于机车的柴油需求量虽未减少,但价格正在上涨。这就促使一些铁路去探索开发代用燃料。据研究及发展部主任Steve Ditmeyer说,伯灵顿北方铁路(以下简称BN)在当时着眼于使用甲醇的可能性。然而,Northern In the early 1980s, the reduction of demand for natural gas forced American utility companies and pipeline companies to seek new markets. At that time, although the demand for diesel for locomotives did not decrease, the prices were on the rise. This has prompted some railroads to explore the development of alternative fuels. According to Steve Ditmeyer, director of research and development, Burlington North Railway (BN) looked at the possibility of using methanol at the time. However, Northern