TheRailpower GG20BGreen Goat is a low-emissionsdiesel hybridswitcher locomotive built byRailpower Technologies Corp. It is powered by a singleCaterpillar C9six cylinder inline engine developing 300horsepower (224 kW), which is also connected to a large battery bank where both sources combine for a total power output of 2,000horsepower (1,490 kW). To date, there have been more than 50 GG20B diesel-electric hybrid switchers manufactured since their first introduction in 2004.[2]
The locomotive, BNSF 1205, was originally built in 1957 asCanadian Pacific 8637 (renumbered 1544 in the 1980s), aGMDGP9 locomotive.[8] In 2006, it was rebuilt into a GG20B for the Canadian Pacific, but was not delivered, due to the cancellation of the order. It was sold to BNSF in 2008, and shipped to the railroad's shops atTopeka, Kansas for conversion. The diesel generator set was removed, and the fuel cell power unit was installed in its place. Hydrogen storage is in a set of tanks installed in a heavily vented enclosure on top of the locomotive'slong hood, above the batteries.[9] To date, it is the largest land vehicle on earth to be powered exclusively by hydrogen fuel cells.[10]
RailPictures.Net Photographs of the Railpower GG20B at RailPictures.Net.