I really appreciate you posting this. It's going to be very interesting to follow this BEL as gets closer to being put into regular mainline use between Stockton and Barstow CA. I think that it should be in California by now!
Looks like. This will be used in combination with standard locomotives. Boost at startups and regeneration/ aid in braking. Will,this ever be used as the only loco to pull a train? Perhaps these units will eventually be simplified and made into modules that can be added, removed and recharged with great flexibility. An exciting development. Bnsf must go through billions in diesel fuel a year, this could amount to a lot of money saved for them.
I think battery powered is a much better alternative to overhead catenary, especially because you can keep the locomotives looking like the ones we've all come to love over the years, thank for sharing this!
It inherently requires less infrastructure. I’d like to see experimentation in charging the battery using the static charge produced in the rails from regular usage. That would help to make 10% of the locomotives electric sustainably, give or take.
@@topsecret1837 @CN Railfan I know the North America has come to love the look of their trains; bulk hulks of steel on steel thrashing through the countryside. But sadly, this loco isn't a solution. Don't get me wrong, the webtec test loco would make for a great "last-mile" loco for areas and siding where electrification isn't practical. But main line routes must put up the fizzy knitting in order to survive the future of strict climate targets and future-proof itself from increasing oil-prices and shortages.
@@lkbergen there never really was any oil shortage. most of it was a scam. Also we can make diesel fuel out of pretty much anything these days. Last job I worked at they where doing a massive conversion to make biodiesel out of chicken fat and plant based stocks.
It would be awesome to run that thing under catenary. That way, if there is a power outage, it might be able to run for a short time, maybe long enough to fix the catenary.
@Yeti Manetti indeed, hydrogen may show more promise. Sort of depends on how fast they can get a 500 Wh/kg battery. Current ones are 300 Wh/kg or something like that. Musk estimated that 500 Wh/kg enables passenger airliners that are battery powered (albeit probably short haul, less than 800 miles/1287 km).
@Yeti Manetti advantage with battery is that the infrastructure is already built. but if they never get the density then you need to go with hydrogen. :)
The next generation is probably not battery locomotives; but those powered by liquid hydrogen, simple to fuel and upkeep, much like today’s diesels. The key to the entire operation, is that those locos must keep rolling to make money for the railroad, and they can’t spend their time being recharged. In so many words, the loco has to be ble to pile up the miles without stopping for a recharge; whereas an. Hydrogen fuel cell locko will just require a quick top-up at a major yard, while its train is being made up. Battery locos will likely be ideal in switchers. Forget about catenaries: they require a lot of upkeep, and really not practical in cold climate and desert. One of the hydriogen fuel cell locomotive is revenue service on the CPKC already. The problem with producing hydrogen today, is that it ‘s still « brown »; the hydrogen extracted from carbon fuels. But in use, the fuel cell is efficient and totally « green »
I really appreciate you posting this. It's going to be very interesting to follow this BEL as gets closer to being put into regular mainline use between Stockton and Barstow CA. I think that it should be in California by now!
Amazing catch I can’t wait to see it on the Bessemer and Lake Erie
Awesome compilation!!
Thanks!
Works like a charm, put it into production
Very nice and quiet, except for the horn :-)
Looks like. This will be used in combination with standard locomotives. Boost at startups and regeneration/ aid in braking. Will,this ever be used as the only loco to pull a train? Perhaps these units will eventually be simplified and made into modules that can be added, removed and recharged with great flexibility.
An exciting development. Bnsf must go through billions in diesel fuel a year, this could amount to a lot of money saved for them.
I think battery powered is a much better alternative to overhead catenary, especially because you can keep the locomotives looking like the ones we've all come to love over the years, thank for sharing this!
It inherently requires less infrastructure.
I’d like to see experimentation in charging the battery using the static charge produced in the rails from regular usage. That would help to make 10% of the locomotives electric sustainably, give or take.
It would also make the rails safer in that making contact with both rails won’t always cause an electrocution, although precautions should be taken.
@@topsecret1837 @CN Railfan I know the North America has come to love the look of their trains; bulk hulks of steel on steel thrashing through the countryside. But sadly, this loco isn't a solution. Don't get me wrong, the webtec test loco would make for a great "last-mile" loco for areas and siding where electrification isn't practical. But main line routes must put up the fizzy knitting in order to survive the future of strict climate targets and future-proof itself from increasing oil-prices and shortages.
@@topsecret1837 also, that's not necessarily how third-rail and OHLE works, if you like I can send you a great link to how OHLE works in the UK.
@@lkbergen there never really was any oil shortage. most of it was a scam. Also we can make diesel fuel out of pretty much anything these days. Last job I worked at they where doing a massive conversion to make biodiesel out of chicken fat and plant based stocks.
Road slug with cab. The batteries will power the trucks and it will take the power from the other locomotive.
Let's see if it fairs better than the Junksets/gensets.
It would be awesome to run that thing under catenary. That way, if there is a power outage, it might be able to run for a short time, maybe long enough to fix the catenary.
Put wires on the main lines and use batteries on the sidelines.
@@placeholdername0000 great idea go back to what the Pennsylvania Railroad was doing on the Northeast Corriordor
whats the name for that train ET44AC or something like that
its called a BEL44C4D
Yeah
I does seem dangerously quite, which is why he's blowing the horn excessively
Noice! When do we start to see the difference the 3000 will make when starting or stopping a real train, do you reckon? \m/
@Yeti Manetti indeed, hydrogen may show more promise. Sort of depends on how fast they can get a 500 Wh/kg battery. Current ones are 300 Wh/kg or something like that. Musk estimated that 500 Wh/kg enables passenger airliners that are battery powered (albeit probably short haul, less than 800 miles/1287 km).
@Yeti Manetti advantage with battery is that the infrastructure is already built. but if they never get the density then you need to go with hydrogen. :)
The next generation is probably not battery locomotives; but those powered by liquid hydrogen, simple to fuel and upkeep, much like today’s diesels.
The key to the entire operation, is that those locos must keep rolling to make money for the railroad, and they can’t spend their time being recharged.
In so many words, the loco has to be ble to pile up the miles without stopping for a recharge; whereas an. Hydrogen fuel cell locko will just require a quick top-up at a major yard, while its train is being made up.
Battery locos will likely be ideal in switchers.
Forget about catenaries: they require a lot of upkeep, and really not practical in cold climate and desert.
One of the hydriogen fuel cell locomotive is revenue service on the CPKC already.
The problem with producing hydrogen today, is that it ‘s still « brown »; the hydrogen extracted from carbon fuels. But in use, the fuel cell is efficient and totally « green »
must be a very long rubber band they are winding up on the electric locomotive!
She’s a beauty!
ALCO PA was a beauty !!! This one looks very boxy an ugly.
Did it pass the tests?
What's the range on this thing? Can it charge from a diesel?
i think so
Nice!!!
Thanks!
i think pure electric creates much less pollution much better than battery electric. WAG12B 12000HP
What charges the Battery ?
IMO, a very long rubber band!
Good
I still say Electric catenary is better on busy mainlines.
Wow the future railroading is right there.
How about change the front to a more modern aerodynamic face !?!...it still looks 100 years old
It's just a freight engine, no need to look good, just needs to function
red bnsf
the loco with orange paint scheme it blows my mind :- D