USA: A four-axle diesel locomotive rebuilt for hydrogen‑battery traction has entered service at a Sierra Northern Railway freight facility in West Sacramento. The project, launched in 2021, received a $4 mln grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).
The conversion is based on a Railpower RP20BD diesel locomotive, a type produced since 2008 by Railpower Technologies through the overhaul and remanufacturing of legacy units. The locomotive is equipped with two 120 kW hydrogen fuel cells supplied by Canada’s Ballard and a 500 kW⋅h battery pack. It is reported to be capable of operating for 80‑100 hours between refuellings, with each refuelling taking up to two hours.
Launch of the converted hydrogen-battery locomotive for Sierra Northern Railway. Source: KCRA 3
In summer 2023, Sierra Northern Railway received a further $19.5 mln from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) to convert three additional diesel locomotives using the same technology. All four locomotives are scheduled to be in service by the end of 2026. A separate project using Ballard technology has already converted another US shunting locomotive to hydrogen traction for operators CSX and CKPC.
