The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Railroad geeks will get a charge out of this.
Norfolk Southern Corp. unveiled a prototype of a 1,500-horsepower switching locomotive last week that relies exclusively on rechargeable batteries for power.
Dubbed the NS 999, the all-electric, plug-in locomotive uses a lead-acid energy storage system made up of 12-volt batteries - 1,080 of them.
With the help of a system provided by Brookville Equipment Co., the locomotive is able to recharge its batteries while braking.
Because there is no diesel engine, there are zero exhaust emissions.
"We strongly subscribe to the view that sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint are solid business objectives that also provide enormous benefits to the communities we serve," said Wick Moorman, Norfolk Southern's CEO. "By utilizing regenerated kinetic energy of the train and with no diesel exhaust emissions, NS 999 achieves those goals."
Moorman attended the roll out of the prototype on Monday at the company's Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa. He was joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa.
Shuster secured $1.3 million in federal funding for the NS 999 project, according to Norfolk Southern.
Other partners include the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Railroad Administration and Penn State.
"Today, the transportation sector currently accounts for just under a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, more than half of nitrogen oxide emissions, and almost three-quarters of our petroleum consumption," said LaHood, as cited in a Norfolk Southern statement. "We need to change that. By working together to develop alternative energy sources and innovative technologies like this electric locomotive, we will make transportation more sustainable and energy-efficient."
The batteries in the prototype locomotive are monitored and controlled through an elaborate battery-management system to ensure safety and maximum battery life, Norfolk Southern said.
When fully charged, it can go three shifts before recharging is needed.
Robert McCabe, (757) 446-2327, robert.mccabe@pilotonline.com
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Not really
It's not really zero emissions. The emissions are just displaced to whatever charges the batteries. These do have big potential as a switcher since they can be ready to go all the time without keeping the engine running.
Neat Experiment With Old Money
This is a neat experiment, ok... Buddy, the Green Goat is a burner (they catch on fire); and it's CANADIAN!
Brookville chiefly makes custom mining equipment. Last time I looked for a 700hp+ locomotive Brookville offered me a HYDRAULIC one for use on the waterfront in VA to cost ~2mill ...WOW. Maybe it was the sales guy I delt with but they seem inept to me.
NS is a solid company. Maybe they groomed Brookville into some assembly of usefulness.
I'd buy NREC locomotives; hands down. In fact, NS has purchased several NREC Gen-set type loco's in the past 5 years. Real solutions to todays railroading needs...
Canadian company released a
Canadian company released a switcher called the green goat some time ago. It is a hybrid, with a genset to charge the batteries. I think it did regenerative braking as well.