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Union
Pacific Hybrid Trains
Union Pacific hybrid trains are flocking to California. In
fact, 10 of the diesel-electric hybrid locomotives, nicknamed
"Green Goats," are being built by RailPower Technologies
of Vancouver, British Columbia for Union Pacific. These green
locomotives have a price tag of at a price tag of $8.2 million
and will be shipped to Union Pacific facilities in the southern
portion of the Golden State. Delivery of the hybrid locomotives
is expected the end of 2005 or beginning of 2006.
According to Union Pacific, "The original hybrid test
locomotive was nicknamed "Green Goat" for its
environmentally symbolic green paint scheme by its builder,
Railpower Technologies, of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Goat is a traditional railroad term for locomotives
used in yard switching operations. The Fresno unit is painted
in Union Pacific's yellow and gray colors. Union Pacific
tested the experimental Green Goat in its Roseville, California,
and Chicago yards during the second half of 2002 and the
first half of 2003, respectively."
The diesel-electric hybrid trains are expected to cut emissions
between 80 to 90-percent and decrease fuel consumption between
40 to 60-percent compared to conventional diesel-powered
locomotives. The Green Goats will be used in rail yards
to separate to sort out railcars for inbound trains and
lining up outbound trains.
Union Pacific's hybrid locomotives meet or exceed the Environmental
Protection Agency's most stringent Tier 2 requirements.
The UP green trains have been designated by the California
Air Resources Board (CARB) as ultra-low emitting locomotives,
primarily because the nitrous oxide levels significantly
exceed the federal limits.
The Green Goats are powered by large banks of batteries
connected to the hybrid power-train. When the batteries
start to become depleted, the clean-burning diesel engine
kicks in to power a generator to recharge the batteries.
The hybrid locomotives are the world's largest and heaviest
hybrid vehicles in production.
Besides CARB and the EPA, Union Pacific has also been working
with BNSF Railway and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution
Control District in cutting emission both in the rail yards
and along its rail lines. On September 13, 2005, Union
Pacific hosted a clean rail symposium for elected
officials, air board members and other invited guests at
the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
The days of trains belching black soot and smoke may finally
be coming to an end. One may long nostalgically of this
for a time, but when we notice that we no longer cough when
a locomotive passes, the nostalgia will turn to thankfulness.
Clean trains, mean clean rains and would could ask for any
more than this?
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