COMMON FUEL RAIL FUEL SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE

A common rail fuel injection apparatus ( 1 ) for a multi-bank, diesel locomotive engine ( 10 ). A common rail ( 20,22 ) is disposed proximate each bank ( 20,22 ) of cylinders ( 12 ) of the engine to provide high pressure fuel ( 30 ) to a fuel flow control apparatus ( 14 ) associated with each respective cylinder. A plurality of high-pressure fuel pumps ( 34 ) provides high-pressure fuel to at least one of the common rails. A fluid cross connection ( 38 ) is provided to convey high pressure fuel between the two common rails, thereby providing for the continued delivery of fuel to all cylinders in the event of a failure of one of the high pressure pumps. The high-pressure pumps are motivated by fuel lobes ( 64 ) located on camshaft sections ( 50 a , 50 b , 50 c) adjoined at a gear driven end 58 of the camshaft ( 50 ). Camshaft sections ( 50 d , 50 e , 50 f) adjoined at an idler end ( 60 ) of the camshaft carry lower torque loads than those sections having fuel lobes and may be formed from a lower strength material or may have a smaller shaft diameter.