
A short line railroad based in Cleveland has purchased its first all-battery electric locomotive.
The Newburgh & South Shore acquired an AMPS Traction GP9-based battery electric switching locomotive.
It weighs 250,000 pounds and has 1,700 in gross horsepower and an 80,000-pound dispatch said officials with OmniTRAX, the parent company of the N&SS.
The news release said the N&SS is the first Ohio short line to deploy AMPS’ emission-reducing locomotive, which is designed to reduce fuel consumption by half and cut nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter by 77 percent.
The locomotive was purchased in part through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund, which awards funding that supports a demonstrated improvement of air quality.
N&SS was one of seven recipients of grants for projects that reduce emissions from aging diesel vehicles and equipment.