Western Railroad Discussion > PHL to Acquire Five Zero Emissions Locomotives

Pacific Harbor Line is contributing $6.37 million toward the $34.2 million cost to acquire
five Zero Emissions locomotives from Progress Rail along with two charging stations.  
The balance of the cost comes from the USDOT Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety 
Improvements(CRISI) grant program.

While the article is not specific we might presume the model will be the EMD® Joule battery-electric 
unit as demonstrated by the EMDX50.  PHL is t he first railroad to upgrade its entire fleet to EPA
Tier 3+ standards, and it also operates a Tier 4 locomotive in addition to the Joule  unit now in service.

https://www.anacostia.com/news/pacific-harbor-line-moves-toward-zero-emission-operations-with-more-green-locomotives-receives-12th-aslrra-safety-award/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/24 13:00 by milepost20.

$7M each, twice what an ICE unit costs and beyond switching, pretty worthless. Clean air has a cost, just wondering
in the grand scheme of things where this all goes.

Out 

These locomotives will work o,k,--until the batteries catch fire. I hope they have good insurance not only for the locomotive, but for the infrastructure damage and loos of revenue while the remains of the loco are removed from the right of way and the tracks are repaired. https://www.yahoo.com/news/lithium-ion-batteries-causing-fires-100049298.html

Customer to PHL:   Can you pull 6 cars off our siding?   PHL:  Not for a few hours.  Our hostler forgot to plug in our locomotives.   

Not sure why PHL is doing this, other than there must be some quid somewhere.    Why spend any money at all on an engine that is most likely going to have more problems then the ones u r running now.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not sure why PHL is doing this, other than there
> must be some quid somewhere.    Why spend any
> money at all on an engine that is most likely
> going to have more problems then the ones u r
> running now.

Because LA Harbor is BIG, BIG, BIG on low emissions, that's why. Losing a couple of lawsuits tends to focus the attention like that.
 

I like the idea of converting all the dray trucks to electric because at night when they all charge it might
bring a local blackout and some sense of reality. tt's my opinion, not meant to sway others, but the
money would be better spent on low emission fuels.

Out 

Follow the money (i.e. subsidies).  Just a hunch that the taxpayers, once again, will be footing the bill -- or at least a substantial portion of it.  You judge whether you support it or not.

-John

They will do what they have to do to comply with the law, and when they can't do business they will close their doors and rail customers will have to switch to truck...only they have the same problems...so the port of LA will shut down. That's the long term...maybe not so long as one would think. 

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Losing a couple of lawsuits
> tends to focus the attention like that.
>  

Posted from Android

Like the post above says, so does closing your doors....

I will be interested to know how they make out.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/24 07:41 by ns1000.

I wonder what the line is in Vegas for how soon these things will be parked and replaced by diesels?

stevelv Wrote:
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> Customer to PHL:   Can you pull 6 cars off our
> siding?   PHL:  Not for a few hours.  Our
> hostler forgot to plug in our locomotives.   

I've experienced the hostler forgetting fuel, lube, sand, and the storekeeper forgetting to order diesel locomotive lube oil and running out - completelyu, as in we had none at all..

TAW

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder what the line is in Vegas for how soon
> these things will be parked and replaced by
> diesels?

PHL has been using "low emission" locomotives for about 10 years now. Remember, this is a switching operation not a line haul operation.
They're not taking 100 cars up Cajon.

KY_Railfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These locomotives will work o,k,--until the
> batteries catch fire. I hope they have good
> insurance not only for the locomotive, but for the
> infrastructure damage and loos of revenue while
> the remains of the loco are removed from the right
> of way and the tracks are repaired.
> https://www.yahoo.com/news/lithium-ion-batteries-c
> ausing-fires-100049298.html

ICE locomotives catch fire as well.  🤷

callum_out Wrote:
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> Clean air has a cost,

As does polluted air.