(United Press International circulated the following article on May 2.)
LONGVIEW, Texas — The first hybrid-powered locomotive built in the United States whirred its way Monday to its new home in Texas.
A spokesman for Railpower Technologies in Canada said the locomotive’s electric engine makes it not only quieter than conventional diesel machines, but it also uses less fuel, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about half and slashes particulate emissions by as much as 80 percent.
Railpower’s locomotive, nicknamed the Green Goat, is powered by a 300-horsepower diesel generator augmented by a bank of lead storage batteries. Conventional locomotives run solely on a 2,000-horsepower diesel generator that uses far more fuel and produces far more exhaust.
Hybrid locomotives are used generally for yard work, rather than long-haul freight movement.
The locomotive in Texas was converted from conventional power in Longview, Taxas. Canadian Pacific Railway has 35 such locomotives on order for delivery during the next four years.