SPARWOOD, British Columbia — CPKC announced a successful completion in the first of three phases of testing for its high-horsepower hydrogen road locomotive. The initial runs are part of a multi-year contract with Elk Valley Resources of the Glencore Group (formally Teck Resources Ltd.) to launch a first-of-its-kind pilot program of coal trains with hydrogen fuel-cell motive power [See “CPKC, Teck Resources pilot program…” News Wire, May 4, 2023].
“This collaboration with CPKC to pioneer hydrogen locomotive technology supports our climate action strategy and our objective of achieving net zero by 2050,” Teck CEO Jonathan Price said in a 2023 statement upon the initial partnership. “The agreement complements our Neptune Terminals investment and other secured West Coast port capacity to support the efficient movement of our high-quality Canadian steelmaking coal to our global customers.”
In a recent news release by CPKC, No. 1200 and its dedicated fuel tender No. 10001 joined three diesel locomotives and a loaded bulk train of 152 gondolas on a Sept. 4 run from Sparwood to Golden, B.C. The return trip, the following day, consisted of 152 empties.
“The first phase of testing was a complete success, and we couldn’t be happier with the results,” said Kyle Mulligan, CPKC Assistant Vice-President Operations Technology. “Our team has worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, advancing our hydrogen locomotive program and steering the industry towards a low-carbon future.”
— Updated Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m. with correct information on Elk Valley Resources today serving as the partner with CPKC.
Rolling Bomb. Can’t wait till a semi runs through or around crossing into side of locomotive or tender.Big boom with hole 20 feet deep and 50 yards wide. Not counting every structure within 500 yards being leveled.
Clean till it goes boom.
Basically all we have learned is that it “ran”. No comparison to tractive effort of it to diesels, etc. Surely someone can give more info.
I wonder how to MU this hydrogen fuel cell locomotive with diesel locomotives? I also wonder how environmentally friendly is the production of the hydrogen fuel?
Does it use compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen?
Great progress…kinda slow on the glowing reporting of the good news,