(RailPower issued the following news release on June 9.)
VANCOUVER — RailPower Technologies Corp. announced today that Modesto and Empire Traction Company (METRR) will lease its environmentally friendly Green Kid hybrid locomotive for a 30-day period to test its effectiveness in its switching and short line haul applications.
Ken Beard, METRR’s Vice President, said: “This trial will provide to METRR the opportunity to assess the Green Kid hybrid technology in our own demanding operations. We are a supporter of energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology, and we look forward to seeing how it proves out.”
Jim Maier, President and Chief Executive Officer of RailPower Technologies, said: “METRR is an innovative, progressive short line operator, servicing the industries of Modesto with its 10 locomotives. We greatly value their involvement in our hybrid program.
“METRR’s test will be another great opportunity for RailPower to demonstrate the benefits of the Green Kid for short line operators across North America, but particularly in central California.”
RailPower’s hybrid locomotives feature small diesel gensets and large banks of recyclable lead-acid batteries. Remanufactured from existing switcher locomotives, they cut oxides of nitrogen NOx and particulates 80-90%, while reducing greenhouse gases and diesel fuel consumption 50-80%, when compared to conventional yard switchers in the 1,000 to 2,000 horsepower range.
RailPower Technologies Corp. is a leader in specialized energy technology systems for transportation and power generation. RailPower’s line of hybrid locomotives is aimed at the switcher replacement market in North America. The Green Goat®, at 2,000 equivalent horsepower, is for the largest rail yards, while the Green Kid, at 500 – 1,000 h.p., is for smaller industrial yards. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and has a US office in Erie, Pennsylvania. Website is www.railpower.com.
METRR is a short-line railroad situated in a 2,000-acre industrial park known as the Beard Industrial District (www.BeardLand.com) in Modesto, California. Its five mile long mainline connects with both Union Pacific and Burlington Northern & Santa Fe railroads. In addition, it operates and maintains 28 miles of track within the Beard Industrial District serving numerous customers. (Website: www.metrr.com)