Union Pacific to test low-emissions yard locomotive

Diesel Fuel News, Jan 21, 2002 by Jack Peckham

RailPower Technologies just nabbed a one-year demonstration deal with North American railroad giant Union Pacific (UP) to test its ultra-low-emissions "Green Goat" yard/switcher locomotive.

Not only does the locomotive claim to cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions about 80-90% compared to conventional switcher locomotives, but also RailPower claims that at $600,000 capital cost, it's about half the price of a conventional switcher -- and it saves about 30% on fuel while running on ordinary diesel.

Besides capital and operating cost savings seen, "it also has no impact on our fueling infrastructure as both its two generator modalities -- conventional [diesel] engine and micro-turbine -- use standard diesel fuel," UP said.

The remaining issues: Real-world performance and durability. UP hopes to learn whether the "Green Goat" technology can indeed stand up to harsh railroad operating conditions over the next year, before committing substantial dollars to purchase such units, company spokesman John Bromley told us.

Green Goat uses a relatively small diesel engine or microturbine to recharge a group of lead-acid batteries that provide 2,000 horsepower, more than enough for typical railroad yard/switcher operations where many old, relatively "dirty" diesel-electric locomotives of 1,500 horsepower typically operate. Because of the avoidance of deep-cycle recharge with the system, the batteries should last 10 years, and the rather small diesel gen-set engine recharging the batteries would only need replacement once or twice over the 20-year standard life expectancy of switchers, RailPower President Gerard Koldyk told us.

Even with battery and engine replacement, the net cost to railroads would represent big savings over conventional switchers, along with big emissions reductions, Koldyk says.

UP will test the unit at a yard near Sacramento, Calif. California is North America's toughest diesel emissions regulatory area, where South Coast Air Quality Management District is pushing very costly natural gas locomotive technology.

Now, it looks Green Goat could give railroads a vastly cheaper option to "clean" natural gas -- and that's especially critical in major metro areas where yard/switching operations not only have an impact on local air quality, but also provoke neighborhood complaints over diesel smoke and smells.