Seven New Switchers

[WCR]

Metra plans to issue an RFP for seven new switch units; six lower-emissions Tier 4 compliant diesels and one battery-electric unit. These will replace older EMD SW series locomotives.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/press-release/21210751/metra-metras-board-approves-plan-paving-way-for-greener-locomotive-fleet

[NewFlyerMCI]

10 hours ago, WCR said:

Metra plans to issue an RFP for seven new switch units; six lower-emissions Tier 4 compliant diesels and one battery-electric unit. These will replace older EMD SW series locomotives.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/press-release/21210751/metra-metras-board-approves-plan-paving-way-for-greener-locomotive-fleet

Who manufactures non-passenger locomotives in the US still? Is still GE? I know Siemens and EMD focus on passenger locomotives, and probably unlikely to bid for this

[WCR]

4 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

Who manufactures non-passenger locomotives in the US still? Is still GE? I know Siemens and EMD focus on passenger locomotives, and probably unlikely to bid for this

GE and EMD are the two main players for new and repowered freight locomotives, Knoxville is another smaller contender. However, none of them yet offer full battery-electric switchers that can be operated solo, so this one's still way up in the air.

[John7]

On 2/19/2021 at 6:41 PM, WCR said:

GE and EMD are the two main players for new and repowered freight locomotives, Knoxville is another smaller contender. However, none of them yet offer full battery-electric switchers that can be operated solo, so this one's still way up in the air.

So it looks like metra may be buying a WABTEC battery locomotive. As for the 6 diesels, it's all guess work. GE hasn't made switchers since the mid-late 1900's. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

On 2/19/2021 at 7:41 PM, WCR said:

GE and EMD are the two main players for new and repowered freight locomotives, Knoxville is another smaller contender. However, none of them yet offer full battery-electric switchers that can be operated solo, so this one's still way up in the air.

I wonder if Siemens or Bombardier might throw their hat into the ring

EDIT: Went to Bom's website only to no longer find the rail page, google'd it, and apparently Alstom now owns Bombardier as of 1/29/21. No clue whether the Bombardier name will be retained

[andrethebusman]

Most likely Knoxville, as they have been (re)building all sorts of oddballs. Wabtec and Progress basically only doing road freighters, again mostly converting old ones DC to AC, very few new. Siemens only doing Chargers. 

[andrethebusman]

The last effort at a pure battery switcher was Railpower's Green Goat, pretty much a dismal failure. Not sure if any even exist any more. RJ Corman bought out Railpower, didn't get too far either. NS tried to build something too, same result. Now GE has a prototype electric ET44 in.CA, it has to stay with two real ET44s as it is basically just used to make up and break train in yards and just along for the ride en route, so yard emissions can be reduced. CA clean air mandate, not practical use.

[Pace831]

Switcher 1 is for sale