Twenty five experimental locomotives in two Union Pacific rail yards will be put through rigorous test of emissions-reducing technologies as part of the company’s efforts to move closer to US environment protection agency’s tier 4 locomotive emissions standards.
The tier 4 locomotive standards are expected to be in force from 2015.
Union Pacific general director, car and locomotive engineering Mike Iden the company’s is working towards offering environmentally friendly freight transportation.
"The testing and analysis of these locomotives is part of an ongoing initiative at Union Pacific to develop and use technology in pursuit of emissions reductions," added Iden.
Nine of the experimental units will be fitted with the EGR technology and will be based in Colton, California to be tested through operations in the southern California region.
The remaining 15 experimental units will be in Roseville for operations in northern California and will be retrofitted with EGR and other emissions reduction technologies as testing progresses.
Testing on all 25 locomotives is scheduled be completed by the end of 2014.
