09-04-2009, 10:06 AM
I think they need more than 3 locomotives. I think the Pacific Harbor Line here in So Cal had about 12 or maybe a few more locomotives. They are using federal and state matching funds to convert the entire fleet to clean diesel and hybrid locomotives. It appears that a lucrative business is developing whereby a rebuilder gets a used locomotive, and rebuilds it as either a gen set or with clean diesel technology and sells it to shortlines like the PHL or M&ET. These new cleaner locomotives are more expensive than used locomotives, but less expensive than brand new equipment from EMD or GE. Air quality rules set by the
EPA are getting harder for areas to meet. They have historically tried to meet the standards by car exhaust emission regulations alone, but the cars are now about as clean as they are going to get without going 100% hybrid which creates problems for someone else's environment. They are now attempting to cleanup exhaust emissions on heavy duty trucks and railroads. The port of Los Angeles has even put in some docks for container ships that allow the ship to plug into shore power and completely shut down the ships diesel generators.
EPA are getting harder for areas to meet. They have historically tried to meet the standards by car exhaust emission regulations alone, but the cars are now about as clean as they are going to get without going 100% hybrid which creates problems for someone else's environment. They are now attempting to cleanup exhaust emissions on heavy duty trucks and railroads. The port of Los Angeles has even put in some docks for container ships that allow the ship to plug into shore power and completely shut down the ships diesel generators.