GREEN RAIL NEWS
GreenRailNews.com “Green” Locomotive Roundup Edited by Jody Moore of greenrailnews.com BROOKVILLE EQUIPMENT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TRACTION COMPANY 2101 arrived in California late in the fall. The former BL21CG demonstrator BMEX 259 was purchased over the summer. In December, it was officially unveiled by the CCT and Brookville. According to Brookville’s press release on the event, “Locomotive #2101 joins the CCT fleet and replaces Locomotive #700 (GP9), due in large part to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA). Rail is already the most fuel-efficient, low-emission mode of surface transportation. Replacing Locomotive #700 with Locomotive #2101 will result in total project emissions reductions of Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrocarbons, Reactive Organic Gases, and Diesel Particulate Matter by an estimated 322.2 tons over 15 years. Central California Traction Company, a 106 year old Company which is jointly owned by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway operates 55 miles of track. CCT serves over 70 customers at The Port of Stockton California and between Stockton and Lodi, California in the agriculture, food, canned goods, wine and manufacturing industries. Upon receipt of the ULEL, CCT plans to use the locomotive in switch service in Stockton and on the Lodi Line. The locomotive will be responsible for switching two yards and seven major customers.” Here’s the complete press release by Brookville on the locomotive: LINK WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW. CLOSE THE WINDOW TO RETURN HERE. In November, BROOKVILLE EQUIPMENT announced a 12,000 square foot expansion of its plant in Brookville, PA. According to Progressive Railroading, “Brookville Equipment Corp. has selected contracting firm Allison and Associates to begin construction on a 12,000 square-foot expansion facility in Brookville, Pa., Brookville Equipment announced in a press release. The expansion will add production space, including underground work pits, equipment wash stations and a 100-foot paint booth featuring a recirculation cure cycle that will decrease drying time and recycle 80 percent of the air. Surveying and site preparation has begun; construction is expected to be completed in about five months.” Here’s the article from Progressive Railroading: LINK WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW. CLOSE THE WINDOW TO RETURN HERE. CUMMINS, INC. CUMMINS, INC. made a major engine announcement in early November, 2011. The maker of the engines powering the majority of the genset locomotives in use today introduced its QSK-95, a V-16 engine rated at 4,000hp that it hopes will find a place in tomorrow’s mainline locomotives, among other places. The press release also previewed the 20-cylinder QSK-120, which would be capable of over 5,000 hp. Both engines could meet EPA Tier 4 requirements with the addition of an OEM selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment unit also offered by Cummins. “The 95-liter 16-cylinder QSK95 is the first engine to be introduced in a new high-horsepower diesel and gas platform from Cummins. The new product line will extend up to the 120-liter 20-cylinder QSK120, capable of over 5000- hp 3728 kW) output.” Reads the press release. ELECTRO MOTIVE DIESEL Many builders took advantage of the RSI Interchange show in Minneapolis, MN in September to unveil new products. ELECTRO MOTIVE DIESEL was no exception, making one of the biggest splashes with the first EPA Tier 3-compliant SD70ACE. The unit, EMDX 2012, shows very little external difference from current production SD70’s. Click on the below links for photos. After being displayed at RSI, the 2012 returned to EMD in McCook, IL.
In addition to the demonstrator, EMD is producing 23 lease units to augment the fleet of Progress Rail Services. EMDX 2100-2114 will be in EMD lease colors similar to the EMDX 2012, while two units will be in KCS colors, and seven locomotives will be painted in CSX colors. Geoffrey Williams got photos of the EMDX 2110, 2111, 2112 and 2113 in London, Ontario back in September. EMDX 2110: CLICK HERE EMDX 2111: CLICK HERE EMDX 2112: CLICK HERE EMDX 2113: CLICK HERE After being rebuilt by EMD in London, Ontario, UNION PACIFIC SD59MX UP 9900 was shipped to Progress Rail Services’ facility in Waycross, GA for further modifications to Tier 3 compliance. The unit was released in early November 2011. Unlike the previous SD59MX rebuilds which received Tier 2-compliant 3,200 hp EMD 710 engines, the 9900 sports additional equipment at the center of the hood to further decrease emissions. The 9900 is a prototype for future upgrades, and was mentioned as a test bed when the SD59MX repower project was first announced. Allan Williams Jr. posted two photos of the 9900 with its additional modifications HERE and HERE
CANADIAN PACIFIC has embarked on a capital project to overhaul and update a number of its older locomotives, which will include a number of both four and six axle EMD 710 ECO rebuilds. CP announced details of the plan in late November 2011 in an article that was carried by the Sacramento Bee: CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ARTICLE The Trains Magazine newswire carried a number of additional details of the order from CP. “Canadian Pacific will become the largest operator of EMD's ECO line of locomotives by the end of the decade. The railroad is scheduled to receive approximately 500 locomotives over the next eight years from the builder. While the exact split between models is not known, it's expected that approximately 350 six-axle and 150 four-axle locomotives will be constructed at the rate of 60 per year. The four-axle units will be constructed at EMD's Muncie, Indiana, facility while the six-axle units will be built at Progress Rail's Mayfield, Kentucky, shop. CP expects to receive the first units of the order during the third quarter of 2012. Here is what's known about each of the two models being built: Six Axle units will be designated SD30C-ECO with the "C" denoting crashworthiness of the cab, frame, and fuel tank. Cores for the locomotives will (at least initially) come from CPs fleet of SD40-2s. As of late October, CP was expected to send the first ten SD40-2s to Mayfield to begin the rebuild order. The frames, trucks, and internal components will be reused while a new (standard) cab, to be designed and constructed by EMD, and a fuel tank will be built new for each unit. With the increased emissions requirements, the locomotives will feature flared radiators (similar to the SD59MXs constructed for Union Pacific) on the long hood to house additional cooling equipment. The locomotives will have a snoot nose to house additional electronics, and all lighting with the exception of the headlights and ditch lights will be LED. The units will occupy the CP 5000 series of road numbers when released. CP will receive the first 20 units (CP 5000-5019) in 2012, starting in the third quarter of 2012. After rebuilding as GP20C-ECOs, they will be numbered CP 2200 and up.”
NORFOLK SOUTHERN has completed both of the GP22ECO mothers, and at least one of the two planned slugs. In November, mothers NS 5100 and 5101 both made test trips in October and November following completion at TMS Altoona. NS 5100: CLICK HERE NS 5101: CLICK HERE NS 600, a GPTEB slug, in a photo by Lance Myers. CLICK HERE
AMTRAK CALIFORNIA is continuing its upgrade of F59PH passenger locomotives with 710 ECO kits. CDTX 2002 was spotted at Progress Rail Services in Tacoma, WA back in September, while CDTX 2011 was completed and billed in mid-December. CDTX 2008 was also billed from Oakland, CA to Tacoma, WA in mid-December. KNOXVILLE LOCOMOTIVE WORKS Another new single engine rebuilder has entered the ever-growing locomotive market. Knoxville Locomotive Works of Knoxville, TN unveiled their prototype KLW20B four axle locomotive, KLWX 2250. The engine is built on a former EMD GP frame, heritage unknown, and generates 2,000 horsepower with an MTU series 4000 prime mover. Company literature offers configurations meeting EPA Tier I+ and Tier III, with benefits including fuel savings of up to 30% (compared to what, though, is not stated) and lower oil use. Engines retain the OEM electrical cabinet, but receive a “Dash 3” upgrade as part of the rebuild. Knoxville Locomotive Works is a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways, operator of eight shortlines in the southeast, as well as the Three Rivers Rambler steam-powered tourist railroad based in Knoxville, TN. KLW had previously existed as a locomotive repair facility before making its foray into the major rebuilding market. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR PHOTOS... NATIONAL RAILWAY EQUIPMENT At September’s Railway Supply Institute show in Minneapolis, NRE unveiled its new 2GS36C-DE high horsepower twin engine genset locomotive. The locomotive is powered by two Cummins QSK-50 engines for a total of 3,600 horsepower, and is said to meet EPA Tier 3 standards. According to NRE, “this two genset, 3,600 horsepower, six axle locomotive is a true multi-purpose design. It can be utilized as an 1800 HP switcher, an 1800 or 3600 HP hump yard locomotive, a Road Switcher, or a Line Haul Locomotive. This equates to the locomotive being suitable for nearly all work to be found on a typical railroad system, and negates the need to assign it to a dedicated service.” The prototype locomotive, NREX 3600, was built on the frame of UPB 4231, a retired SD40-2 that had had its cab deactivated as a cost-saving measure. We had several photos of the 3600 in the September “Roundup”, but here’s another by Matt Peterson in Minneapolis: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO
NRE has been awarded another contract for three genet locomotives for the US ARMY. According to a Statement of Work released in November, "This SOW calls for the quantity of three new road switcher GenSet locomotives, transportation and delivery of the locomotives, and documentation and training described herein as the base item. It also includes options for technical training and additional field support. The delivery destinations for the locomotives are Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri), Fort Riley (Kansas), and Fort Carson (Colorado)." The new locomotives are expected to be delivered in 2012. NRE is constructing two genset locomotives for CSX units at its plant in Dixmoor, IL. No word yet on model, or whether the units will be built on new or recycled frames. Dixmoor is also working on a 1GS7B for the US NAVY. The unit is being built on the frame of former Great Lakes Steel 55, an EMD SW-1200. The unit was originally built in 1966 for the Texas and Pacific Railway as T&P 1297. BNSF has received two more 3GS21C six axle gensets. BNSF 1309 and 1310 were converted from retired SD45-2’s BNSF 6476 and 6482 respectively. Work was done at NRE in Paducah, KY. They are headed for San Bernadino, CA for yard service there. PROGRESS RAIL SERVICES UNION RAILROAD is again looking at genset power. This time, Progress PR23B genset locomotive PRLX 2009 has been working the Pittsburgh, PA area steel hauler for several months. Steven McKay caught these fantastic images of the unit at work:
NORFOLK SOUTHERN tested several Progress models out of Roanoke, VA in the middle of December. PR43C’s NS 4002, 4003 (?), and NS 4300 (?) along with PR30C PRLX 3001 and PR23B genset PRLX 2002 were spotted in initial testing mid-month. Adhesion testing on Starkey Hill was expected to begin the following week. NS tested three other PR43C’s – NS 4000, 4001 and 4300 – back in Feb. 2010. PACIFIC HARBOR LINE held a press conference in September, 2011 to celebrate the arrival of some of its new Tier 4-repowered locomotives in Long Beach, CA. "We have taken the greenest fleet in America and improved it," Pacific Harbor Line Managing Director Andrew C. Fox told the Los Angeles Times during the event. The railroad is in the process of upgrading 16 of its 23 unit fleet with new CAT engines and exhaust systems. Pacific Harbor Line said the upgrades would result in an 85% reduction in particulate and a 38% reduction in nitrogen oxide compared with the rail line's fleet six years ago. PHL is replacing the MTU engines in units it had previously had rebuilt by MotivePower a few years ago. Here’s a link to the coverage from the LA Times: CLICK HERE The biggest visual indicator of the rebuilt engines is a box in the center of the long hood above the prime mover. Compare these photos of the MP20B-3 PHL 21 and MP20C-3 PHL 64 before and after rebuilding:
PHL 21 after: CLICK HERE PHL 64 before: CLICK HERE PHL 64 after: CLICK HERE RAILPOWER TECHNOLOGIES Two more RP20BD locomotives ere completed in November for the MODESTO and EMPIRE TRACTION. MET 2003 and 2004 were released from Thoroughbred Mechanical Services in Altoona, PA in early November. As of Dec. 10, they were still only in Illinois. Jerry Heilman sent us these photos of the 2003 and 2004 in Rochelle, IL on Dec. 9. In addition to the five units being delivered from Altoona, the MODESTO & EMPIRE TRACTION has purchased two of the five RP20BD locomotives currently being leased from Railpower. Former RPRX 5402 has already been repainted and put into service as MET 2007, while former RPRX 5404 is presently being repainted and renumbered as MET 2008. The first unit of UNION PACIFIC’s most recent order of seven six axle RP20SD gensets departed TMS in Altoona, PA on Dec. 8, 2011. The unit, numbered UPY 887, is believed to have been constructed on the frame of retired SD40-2 UP 3090. Back in June 2011, formerly cabless RP14BD BNSF 1211 was spotted at Metro-East Industries in East St. Louis, IL sporting a new cab, and lacking its numbers. At the time, we weren’t sure what was up, and waited for more information. That information came in the spotting of RPRX 1411, which appears to be the same locomotive now wearing a coat of RJCORMAN-RAILPOWER demonstrator red paint. Here are two photos of the 1411 still in BNSF paint with the new cab: and here’s a link to a photo of the 1411 in RJC red:
© CRO January 2012 |
