WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sierra Northern Railway has acquired the assets of locomotive builder RailPower LLC as part of its efforts to develop hydrogen and other low- or zero-emission motive power.
RailPower has produced approximately 190 locomotives, including 55 hybrid switchers and 116 genset locomotives, while Sierra Northern is currently involved in development of at least four hydrogen-powered locomotives [see “Sierra Northern receives funding …,” Trains News Wire, July 6, 2023].
Sierra Northern said in a press release that it is “poised to integrate RailPower’s hybrid innovations with its hydrogen expertise.” It plans to build its hydrogen locomotives using RailPower’s platform in an effort initially targeting the 260 locomotives used by shortline railroads in California.
RailPower currently offers a series of four- or six-axle, single or multiple-engine locomotives ranging from 600 to 2,800 hp.
Sierra Northern’s hydrogen project has been supported by the California Energy Commission and the California State Transportation Agency. In addition to operating short lines in three locations and providing switching at locations in Concord and Sacramento, Sierra Northern is also principle owner of the Sierra Energy Corp., which has developed a waste-to-clean-hydrogen gasification technology. More on the company is available at its website.
May their Hydrogen project go better than Alstom’s work.