I know we’ve talked about the possibility of battery-electric locomotives before. However up till now it’s been a “what if?” discussion. As it turns out Norfolk Southern, Brookville Equipment and Penn Sate University are teaming up to build one. Here’s a link to the press release. It’s also in the current issue of Railpace on page 13.
Thank you ! [tup] for posting this. [bow]
Although the press release says “hybrid”, you’re perceptive enough to comprehend that it’s a straight battery-electric instead. The caption to the NS drawing in the press release says “replace the engine and fuel tank”, and there’s no sign of any other engine or generator being installed, nor mention of one in the text. Though not expressly stated, I presume that this loco will instead be recharged from time to time. The 30 % recovery from the regenerative/ dynamic braking matches what I’ve been advised by other informed sources, too, since then.
Unfortunately, the NS publication that is linked in the BEC news release does not appear to be on-line any longer. I’ll have to see if I can find it someplace else - and/ or that issue of RP.
I’ll also have to go back and find that previous thread on ‘regeneration’ (or similar) from a month or two ago - and see how wrong (or right) I was with some of my 'back-of-the envelope 'calculations then.
EDIT: It was “Re: Instead of heat dissipating dynamic braking…” at http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/152866.aspx?PageIndex=1 on 04-29-2009 at 12:16 PM, near the bottom of the page. I had 1,313 truck-size batteries for 4,400 HP output for 1 hr.
In the meantime, I found a little description on the PJM Grid Operator website about a truck-trailer that’s stuffed chock-full of normal-size storage batteries for a temporary large-scale power supply. I’ll see if I can find that one, too, and post the link here as well.
EDIT: It’s “Project Barbados”, a load-balancing regulator using an advanced lithium-ion energy storage system, by AEC Energy Systems /
Unfortunately, the NS publication that is linked in the BEC news release does not appear to be on-line any longer. I’ll have to see if I can find it someplace else -
Try this link instead - it’s on pages 6 and 7 of the newsletter ‘‘BizNS’’, produced by the Norfolk Southern’s Corporate Communications Dept. - on ‘Sustainability - Track 2012’, Vol. 1, No. 2, March-April 2009 [= Pages 8 and 9 of 28 of the ‘PDF’ version, approx. 2.97 MB in size]. Lots of details:
When you consider Brookville’s background, it makes perfect sense that NS approached them about building a battery-electric shop switcher.
Considering the MTA does a good amount of business with Brookville, perhaps we’ll also see a version of this locomotive equiped with either third rail shoes or a pantograph for use on the LIRR or Metro-North.
To clarify - The ‘shop goat’ assignment is supposed to be only the initial ‘shakedown cruise’ or ‘beta test’ of the critter, as I understand from the several referenced and linked publications. After it passes that test, it’s supposed to go into the adjoining yard for daily switching work, and most likely further evaluation.
Fortunately, much of this should be reasonably visible and photograph-able from adjoining public streets and overhead bridges, etc.
Wonder what its ‘class’ and number will be . . . [:-^]
How about EB-1?
I cant ever see that working not on the NS anyways. its somewhat common practice to keep 1 to 2 Engines running and have 2 sets of jumper cables here to start all the engines. because of dead batterys,
Maybe that’s what it’s really for instead, then - a ‘super-jumper’ for road service to jump any and all other dead locos. Maybe they’ll build in a couple permanent sets of jumper cables to facilitate that . . .[swg]
Not just road but locals and other switchers that wont start. mybe they will send it out system wide,
What I meant was ‘‘road service’’ as in ‘‘AAA road service’’ - you know, the people who will come and jump-start your car if needed. [:I]
And so yes, it would not be just for ‘road locomotives’ and ‘road switchers’, but the others that you suggest as well.
Actually, if you read the NSbiz article, you’ll see that NS also has plans for a ‘road’ version of it - well, at least for pusher service, as follows - ‘‘Money is in the 2009 budget to start work on a prototype six-axle helper locomotive, used to push a train up steep inclines.’’
Hey, there you go - if they can’t start it, at least they can now still ‘push’ the dead unit home - kind of like a ‘‘freeway service and repair truck’’, but on rails instead. . . [swg]
- Paul North.
I haft to read enough NS propoganda, and for them to waste money like this is right in line with there usual BS. But every now and then they come up with a good idea, it dont last but they do it.
Looks like it will be NS ‘BP-4’ No. 999 - formerly NS 2911, per this source - the three photos at ‘July 2009’, presently about 2/3 of the way down Page 7:
http://www.altoonaworks.info/pics/page7.html
Another souce indicates that it is supposed to be ‘unveiled’ this coming Monday, Sept. 21st:
http://jreb.org/ns/index.php?topic=8077.msg24024;topicseen
We’ll see, I suppose . . . .[:-^]
- Paul North.
Well was the NS ‘BP-4’ class # 999 unveiled yesterday the 21st, as it was supposed to be ?
“No. More likely next week.” - Per Reply #12 earlier today at:
http://jreb.org/ns/index.php?topic=8077.0
Just have to wait and see, I suppose.
-Paul North.
Well, it was finally unveiled today, per the following NS press release dated Sept. 28, 2009, from:
http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News%20Releases/2009/batteries.html
September 28, 2009
Batteries ARE included:
Norfolk Southern unveils experimental electric locomotive
ALTOONA, PA. - With U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congressman Bill Shuster in attendance, Norfolk Southern today unveiled the latest in alternative energy locomotive technology at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa. NS 999 is a prototype 1,500-horsepower switching locomotive that relies solely on rechargeable batteries for power.
“At Norfolk Southern we strongly subscribe to the view that sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint are solid business objectives that also provide enormous benefits to the communities we serve,” said CEO Wick Moorman. “By utilizing regenerated kinetic energy of the train and with no diesel exhaust emissions, NS 999 achieves those goals. This prototype locomotive was developed by Norfolk Southern, with the help of an incredibly creative partnership, including the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the Federal Railroad Administration, and The Pennsylvania State University, for which we are grateful. We must also recognize Co
Gee Paul settle down dont wet yourself after all its only a peice of junk. You can bet this is for publicity smoke and mirrors after the newness is worn off and the hype is down and they showed up the other railroads it will fade away. Remeber this is the safest railroad around and when you cant even keep a dash 9 running and jumping all the other engines how in the world do you think this one will stay running. they will look at the cost of batteries the amount of charging time the 1 shift it can work before a charge 1 weak battery take out all the others, limited tonnage it can drag … after you add all that together its not worth the cost. the first video will be them dragging 6-10 empties then working the hump yard with empties maybe they can give it to MOW for the camp cars and other duties needed for them.
Or it’ll be pulling a “tender” with a big generator on it…
Progress has to start somehow, and someplace…but of course it is not always successful.
Maybe you have something here a general perpose railgrinder welder all in one maybe hook that system research car to it also. that way they scan check research weld and grind all at the same time. 1 track authority a days outage and do it all at one time
What they have produced is a new hybrid coal burning locomotive. Or a coal-fired, steam turbine, battery-electric hybrid locomotive, to be precise. It is indeed a hybrid, but the prime mover is out of sight, out of mind in a building somewhere else. NS calls the locomotive “zero emission,” but of course that cannot be the case.
Moreover, the labels green, sustainable, and carbon footprint do not only account for how much fossil fuel is consumed and how much emissions are produced. The terms actually take into account the full life cycle of energy input and natural resource extraction that goes into the item being labeled “green.” The use of 1,080 lead a