Abstract: An enclosure for containing cylinders includes an upper surface, a lower surface, opposing side walls spanning the upper and lower surfaces, and an end surface spanning the upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface, lower surface, side walls, and end surface defining an enclosed space. A plurality of inner walls divides the enclosed space to define bays. A removable door panel is opposite the end surface and includes dividers defining portions of the door panel corresponding to the bays. The enclosure includes a plurality of first contact pads, a plurality of first mounting plates, a plurality of second contact pads, and a plurality of second mounting plates. At least one first contact pad and at least one second contact pad is positioned in a corner of each bay and each portion, respectively, at an angle that is neither parallel or perpendicular to either the side walls or the upper surface.

Abstract: A locomotive underframe CNG fuel storage system including: a crashworthy enclosure including a removable side panel and a permanent side panel welded into place; and at least one CNG cylinder module, wherein each CNG cylinder module includes a plurality of CNG cylinders stacked vertically, secured to a vertical wall, and separated by a horizontal plate, wherein the horizontal plate extends towards but does not contact the vertical wall when the vertical wall is planar and, further wherein, the horizontal plate supports the vertical wall from moving further out of plane when vertical axial weight causes the vertical wall for move out of plane towards the horizontal plate.