The economic benefit analysis model for analyzing alternate truck and car component configurations was developed by ZETA-TECH Associates, Inc. for ABC-NACO Inc. The model is a user friendly and menu-driven Windows™ application that allows the user to perform complex economic analysis of alternate truck and car component configurations. The system was developed for Windows 3.1 or higher, and is a multiple document interface program that allows the user to edit/view multiple sessions at one time.

The primary interface screen is shown below along with the system menu, tool bar, and a total cost summary form listing different operational and track costs associated with a defined train movement over a specific route.

The model provides the user with the ability to compare round-trip and annual costs of operation of alternate truck and car component designs as compared to a defined base case. The cost summary also shows the annual savings due to operation of the alternate configuration, return on investment (ROI), and internal rate of return (IRR) for the premium cost of the alternate truck design/components. In addition, the user has the option to override any particular cost category by un-checking the corresponding box under the override column.

The cost categories include the following:

• Locomotive Ownership
• Locomotive Maintenance
• Car Ownership
• Car Maintenance
• Track Cost
• Fuel Cost
• Crew Cost
• Lading Damage Cost

The different options in the menu bar allow the user to enter data related to train operation, locomotive and car information, route profile characteristics, running time and fuel consumption, along with track maintenance/lading damage costs. An example of the Train Consist information is shown below.

The car ownership/maintenance costs are one of major cost items in the analysis, and has the potential of driving the outcome of the analysis. The running time and fuel consumption of a particular train consist over a specific route can be obtained either from a simulation model (external to this system) or an internal calculator used to estimate running time. The track costs are based on the total annual traffic over the route (MGT), annual track maintenance costs, and track damage reduction due to improved truck design/component. The route profile is described in segments, and the user can define the grade/curvature profile of a particular segment by selecting the appropriate grade/curvature variable from the matrix shown in the figure.

The model offers the user several options for viewing and understanding the results of the economic benefit analysis. The first is a constant view of the IRR and ROI along with a summary of all the cost categories on the primary interface window. These values are automatically updated each time a change is made. A graphical summary of savings (as shown below) can be obtained with the click of a button from the

results menu. The savings obtained in each cost category based on the alternate configuration is shown in the bar graph. A sensitivity analysis can be performed on several key variables to show the effects of changing that variable while keeping all other variables constant. An example of a sensitivity analysis on New Design Purchase Cost is shown in the following figure.

Several software interface features are available to the user that make the model intuitive and easy to use. All inputs are via easy to understand forms. Whenever possible the input choices are limited through the use of drop down list boxes and/or radio buttons. All numeric inputs are verified by the model and input ranges for these values are applied.

A standard Windows format toolbar allows the user to access input screens immediately and easily. Those options, available through the menu system, are also available through the toolbar.

A standard Windows help file is also available. This allows the user to access information pertaining to any form, input screen, output screen, etc.

The results of a model session are stored in a file for later retrieval. Multiple files (sessions) may be opened at one time so that comparisons of different analyses can be performed.

A model session can be printed to obtain a hard copy output of the data comprised in that session. All of the input data and associated cost calculations are printed in a logical format, so that the user has a document that can be referred to for any given analysis as necessary.