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Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Amtrak and transportation officials from Oklahoma and Texas have started a yearlong test to see whether beef-based biodiesel can efficiently run The Heartland Flyer passenger train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

Texas cattle are supplying 20 percent of the fuel for the 3,200-horsepower engine, the rest is regular No. 2 diesel. The biodiesel blend includes beef byproduct.

In ceremonies Tuesday at the Sante Fe station in downtown Oklahoma City, government and railroad officials announced the test as part of this week's Earth Day events.

After a year, Amtrak will inspect the engine and collect exhaust data. Other tests will be performed throughout the year. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the use of foreign oil.

"This biodiesel project I think is really a huge step forward in being environmentally friendly, looking for alternative fuels," said David Streb, ODOT Director of Engineering.

Amtrak received a $274,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for the project.

The train stops at Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley and Ardmore in Oklahoma and at Gainesville and Fort Worth in Texas.