Railpower GG20B

Railpower GG20B

A Railpower GG20B hybrid genset in the Union Pacific paint scheme
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Railpower Technologies (RPT)
Model GG20B
Build date September 2004 – present
Total produced 55
Specifications
AAR wheel arr B-B
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Loco weight 280,000 lb (130,000 kg)
Fuel type Diesel fuel
Fuel capacity 2,100 imp gal (9,500 l; 2,500 US gal)
Prime mover Caterpillar C9 [1]
Engine type Four-Stroke six cylinder inline diesel[1]
Aspiration Turbocharger
Cylinders 6
Performance figures
Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h)
Power output 300 hp (224 kW)
2,000 hp (1,490 kW) Tractive Equivalent
Tractive effort 80,000 lbf (355.9 kN) Starting

The Railpower GG20B Green Goat is a low-emissions diesel hybrid switcher locomotive built by Railpower Technologies Corp. It is powered by a single Caterpillar C9 six cylinder inline engine developing 300 horsepower (224 kW), which is also connected to a large battery bank where both sources combine for a total power output of 2,000 horsepower (1,490 kW). To date, there have been more than 50 GG20B diesel hybrid genset switchers manufactured since their first introduction in 2004.[2]

Original Buyers

Railroad Quantity Road number(s) Notes
Bechtel Group 1 2000
BNSF Railway 4 1210-1213 1205 Ex-Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway 6 1700-1705 Railpower contract later terminated, units sent to different owners. Amtrak 599 BNSF Railway 1205
Kansas City Southern Railway 2 1868-1869
Lubrizol Corporation 1 2006
Modoc Rail Academy 1 2608
Railpower Technologies 5 2401-2405 Demonstration Units
Railserve 10 414, 1602, 1621, 1810, 2402, 2605, 4495, 4547, 8049, & 9140 Ordered with non-consistent running numbers
Union Pacific Railroad 21 Y2004 & Y2300-2319 Units classed by UP as "GG20GE"
United States Army 4 6000-6003
Total 55[3]

Fuel-cell testbed

BNSF Railway and Vehicle Projects converted a GG20B to an experimental testbed, for the use of hydrogen fuel cells. The new locomotive is designated HH20B. The locomotive was publicly demonstrated for the first time on June 29, 2009, at Topeka, Kansas.[4][5]

The locomotive, BNSF 1205, was built initially for the Canadian Pacific Railway, 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 at Topeka, 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's long hood, above the batteries.[6] To date, it is the largest land vehicle on earth to be powered exclusively by hydrogen fuel cells.[7]

See also

External images
RailPictures.Net Photographs of the Railpower GG20B at RailPictures.Net.
Railroad Picture Archives Railpower GG20B photographs from Railroad Picture Archives.

References

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