Union Pacific Railroad.(INDUSTRY NEWS)

Union Pacific Railroad is on schedule to put a sixth "next-generation" ultra-low emitting Genset switching locomotive into service at its Roseville, CA, rail yard. The Genset will be field tested at Union Pacific's Fort Worth, TX, rail yard before being deployed in Roseville in July. This locomotive's arrival brings Union Pacific's Genset fleet to 165, the world's largest and almost one-half of all built.

This version of the Genset switcher employs six traction motors for increased power over the previous Gensets, which operated on four traction motors. The newer model maintains all the environmentally friendly standards of the previous Genset model.

"Genset locomotives can handle all rail yard duties and continue to be the standard bearer for new US yard locomotives," said Mike Iden Union Pacific general director, car and locomotive engineering. "We constantly are looking for ways to make our operations more efficient and safe. This next-generation Genset technology is maturing, while being able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% compared to older switching locomotives." Currently, every major US railroad operates Genset locomotives, as does one Canadian railroad and even a South American railroad. The original prototype Genset locomotive was delivered to Union Pacific in late 2005.

One of the Genset's primary advantages is that its environmental benefits truly are calculated on a "well to wheels" basis, which means looking at exhaust emissions on a complete life-cycle basis starting with the origin of the fuel or energy source down to the work performed.

"A lot of work is ongoing in terms of developing new and better locomotives and other vehicles," Iden said. "When calculating true fuel savings or greenhouse gas emission reductions, it is important to include every step in the process as we do with the Genset."

Genset locomotives use readily available diesel fuel, as do older locomotives, but significantly less of it.

The ultra-low emitting Genset locomotives reduce emissions of the oxides of nitrogen (which contribute to smog and ozone formation) by up to 80% and particulate matter by 90% compared to older switching locomotives. Because Genset locomotives use up to 37% less fuel than older locomotives, their greenhouse gas footprint is that much lower. Genset locomotive emissions typically are 50% better than current US Environmental Protection Agency regulatory limits for new locomotives.

"Union Pacific operates the world's largest Genset fleet, and we will continue to use our hybrid locomotive experience to develop more advanced and cleaner locomotive technologies in the future," Iden said.

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