The Wabtec/GE heavy-haul

The Wabtec/GE heavy-haul battery powered road switcher started test service on BNSF's Stockton to Barstow route across the Tehachapi Mountains: https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2021/01/04-wabtecs-flxdrive-battery-electric-locomotive-begins-revenue-tests-on-bnsf

The Wabtec/GE 3000 was sandwiched between two GE Tier 4 locomotives. The first train out of Barstow was 8385 tons, out of Stockton 7787 tons.
Regards, Volker

Interesting

It will be interesting to see if it works out well enough for them to buy more.

Interesting

They could use one of the diesel units to charge the battery powered engine while underway if the batteries run down.

Bernd

I would thing that it we be

I would think that it we be best used in a 3 engine set and supply supplemental tractive effort and regenerative breaking.

Use it to help get the train up to speed or climb a hill then reclaim that energy on the way down as it is used to as regenerative breaking.  Once up to speed you are depending on the diesel engines to maintain speed.

A train that needs 5 diesel units, 3 up front and 2 in the back.  might only need 2 or 3 diesel units for most of the trip on level rail, but need the other 2 or 3 for getting it started or climb a hill etc.   other than that they are just burning fuel.   

So I could see how this would be a good add as supplemental power,  when you need the extra horsepower for only a few areas, much like in the way helpers might be used, but these are part of the consist

Quote Bernd: They could use

The Wabtec broschure shows the front of the locomotive: https://www.wabteccorp.com/media/466/download

There is no electrical power connection. Currently the locomotive can only recharge from the power grid or from its own dynamic brakes. The regenerative energy from a second locomotive might be a too high charging current for the current 2400 kWh battery packs.

But I agree that a power connection would make the battery locomotive more versatile and could reduce fuel consumption of a consist even more. I see the locomotive as a first test bed and starting point.
Regards, Volker

Weird rear

I've noticed the back of that thing looks the same as the back of an ACe.

The Wabtec GECX 3000 was

The Wabtec GECX 3000 was testet for three month on BNSF between Stockton and Barstow. During that time thelocomotive ran 13,000 miles and saved 11% fuel over the entire consist.

Stationary charging took about 8 hours at 480 V. The locomotive was able to provide 30 to 40 minutes of full power. Battery life is estimated at 5 years.

The second generation with 7.2 MWh capacity and C - C wheel arrangement instead of 2.4 MWH and A1A - A1A is already in development. It can stationary recharge using a pantograph under a section of high-voltage catenary in about 4 hours. A 100% battery three unit consist is expected to provide more power than the comparable diesel consist.

One second generation locomotive is already sold to Australia.
Source: https://www.railwayage.com/freight/flxdrive-electrifies-pittsburgh/?RAchannel=locomotives

Perhaps the next step is to recharge on the fly under a section of catenary as is tested in Germany for electric trucks: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9786727/Motorways-fitted-overhead-electric-wires-charge-eTrucks-move.html
/> Regards, Volker