USA: The conversion with a service life extension has been undertaken by the freight operator CSX at their Huntington locomotive depot.
This is the initial step in terms of the partnership, signed last year, with the Canadian operator CPKC which is already experienced in converting locomotives to hydrogen traction.
The project involved the refurbishment of the four-axle GP38-2 shunting locomotive produced by EMD, USA, in 1972. The locomotive’s original frame, driver’s cab, bogies, and other components have been reused. Meanwhile, the vehicle has been equipped with 200 kW Ballard fuel cells, the same as those installed on two locomotives which this year have been put in operation by CPKC in Calgary, Canada. In its turn, CSX plans to test their locomotive in the vicinity of Huntington just in the near future.
Presentation of the EMD GP38-2 diesel locomotive of 1972 after conversion to hydrogen. Source: CSX
Last time a similar conversion project in the USA was implemented in 2009 when the BNSF operator converted the HH20B locomotive for hydrogen. In 2014 that locomotive was taken out of service, and last year it was donated to the Oklahoma Railway Museum.
