Has any one or heard anything regarding the performance of the Green Goat locomotive that is being leased to the UP for a year? If you are not aware of the Green Goat Loco. It is a hybred locmotive that was built and designed in New Westminster/NorthVacnouver, BC, Canada. The designers and builders were mostly employs of BC Rail. The loco looks just like a slug that that is 2000HP and is built on a old and heavily rebuilt GP9 frame. To find out more visit: www.railpower.com or http://www.railpower.com/2support/greenscan.doc for a quick over view of the locomtoive (REQUIRES MICROSOFT WORD) http://www.railnews.com/LOCO/greengoat.htm Dane
According to the February issue of TRAINS, the Green Goat has received a green and white paint scheme and has successfully operated under it's own power.
Here is the article that I found at www.trains.com... Union Pacific to lease Green Goat switcher by Bill Stephens Union Pacific has signed a one-year lease on the “Green Goat” hybrid switcher, which it will station at its Roseville Yard near Sacramento, Calif. The RailPower Technology 2000 hp Green Goat – a radically rebuilt GP9, former Southern Pacific 2890 – uses a microturbine, in conjunction with batteries, to improve fuel economy and reduce pollution. UP says it is always looking for ways to cut locomotive emissions and operate more cost effectively. The Green Goat may fit the bill on both counts. “The Green Goat switcher offers the opportunity for substantial operating cost advantages through lower fuel usage, lower maintenance and higher productivity. Union Pacific has looked at several options for replacing our aging switcher fleet and the Green Goat has the strong advantage of having a capital cost that makes sense to the railroad for a 20-year solution,” said Michael E. Iden, UP’s general director, car and locomotive engineering. RailPower is first eyeing the California, Texas, and New York markets – which are trying to reduce air pollution – for the Green Goat. The locomotive cuts fuel costs by 30 percent and pollution by 90 percent. Its 30 batteries supply 95 percent of the locomotive’s horsepower. The balance is supplied by the microturbine, which also recharges the batteries. I'll take fries with that, Dane
I had to check out the article on the "Green Goat". It kind of looks like the MPI 1500D with a cut down long hood. A very interesting concept! Harold
