STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Terminal & Eastern, an OmniTRAX short line, has unveiled a new Tier 4-compliant locomotive for the Central California railroad.
The SE10B T4L locomotive, built by Knoxville Locomotive Works in Tennessee, was purchased with the help of a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Central District. The 1,050-hp locomotive features a new OmniTRAX paint scheme.
“This new state-of-the-art locomotive is the result of hard work by many individuals from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Central District, OmniTRAX, KLW and other stakeholders,” OmniTRAX CEO Kevin Shuba said in a press release, “and will enhance the quality of life in Stockton and nearby communities. … We also appreciate the ongoing support of Congressman Jerry McNerney, who has been vigilant in promoting tax credits for environment-friendly rail projects at the federal level, and the other state and local officials who are trying to advance sustainable transportation.”
The grant is part the air pollution district’s locomotive program, which provides incentive funds for the replacement of older locomotives with new, energy efficient models.
OmniTRAX says it is working to make sure the ST&E’s previous locomotive, a 60-year-old EMD SW1200, is preserved and finds an appropriate new home.
A plume of “green smoke” coming from a “green” engine? Love it!!
When I first saw the photo, I thought that was black diesel smoke rising (I now recognize it as a tree) from a badly combusted unit.
That tree sure looks like a plumb of black smoke from that engine. Are you sure there is not a coal fire hidden inside? Not the best choice photo to publish. Add that to the blooper collection.