MotivePower sells ultra-low emission locomotive to Calif. repair facility

Wabtec Corp. has sold an ultra-low emission locomotive manufactured by Boise-based subsidiary MotivePower Inc. to a railcar repair facility in Colton, Calif., July 19.

GATX Corp., the buyer of the 1,400-horsepower locomotive, said the new MotivePower MP14B model is expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by at least 80 percent and particulate matter by at least 70 percent compared to existing switcher locomotives. The company says it will also provide fuel savings of up to 35 percent.

The locomotive uses technology known as gen-set that allows the train to be turned on and off as quickly as a truck engine. It also has a frame that provides tighter curve negotiation, a microprocessor control system and power-on-demand control logic.

“We’re pleased to provide GATX with an environmentally friendly solution that is expected to save fuel, reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability,” said Albert Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer, in a news release. “MotivePower’s ultra-low emission, gen-set switchers are a strong and timely addition to its product portfolio from one of the industry’s leading locomotive manufacturers.”

A grant from California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District is helping pay for part of the purchase. Full terms of the deal were not immediately released.

Chicago-based GATX Corp. provides leasing and other services to customers operating rail, marine and other assets. The company controls one of the largest railcar fleets in the world, including 600 locomotives in North America.

“It is a high priority for GATX to be an industry leader in the areas of safety, health and environmental responsibility, and especially to be a good neighbor in the communities in which we operate,” said Jim Earl, GATX’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, in the news release. “The addition of this clean, efficient locomotive is an excellent example of our strong commitment to these goals.”