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Brookville Equipment Co. of Brookville, PA has perhaps the most ambitious view of the multi-engine concept, taking it a few steps further. Their CoGeneration line of road switchers is being designed not only to run with multiple engines, but to have the option of electric or battery power built in as well. The CoGen line also features regenerative braking that generates power for the systems while braking at speeds down to 0.6 mph. The prototype unit in the CoGen line was built using Maine Central 259, an EMD GP38. Visually, this unit is quite a bit different from any other genset offerings, in that it has a more conventional height long hood, larger radiator fans, and the stock-looking EMD cab and nose. The units feature Cummins QSK-19 engines for power. Those engines are rated at 700 hp each, giving the 3-engine unit an agregate horsepower rating of 2,100. Brookville used a recycled frame for the three engine prototype, but the others have been built on new frames.
By combining the standard configuration with particulate exhaust filters, the Brookville says its CoGen unit can reduce hydrocarbon emissions by up to 97%, NOx emissions by 65%, CO emissions by 75%, and particuate emissions by 93%. Also, in 2008, Brookville built a pair of twin enigne CoGen units for Metro North as part of an 18-unit order that has included a number of single engine locomotives. These are the first twin engine units offered by Brookville, and makes the company the only other builder aside from NRE and Railpower to sell a genset locomotive. The three engine model has been desgingated by Brookville as a BL20CG, meaning Brookville Locomotive, 2,000 hp range, Cogeneration, General purpose. The twin-engine units for Metro-North have been designated as BL14CGs.
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Model: BL20CG
2,100 hp 3-engine genset locomotive, engines: 3 - Cummins QSK19 (700hp each) on 4 axles.
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Roster:
Owner: |
Unit
Number: |
Donor
Unit: |
Originally
Built: |
Converted
At: |
New Build
Date: |
Serial
Number: |
Used
At:
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Notes: |
Brookville Equip. |
BMEX 259 |
MEC 259 |
N/A |
Brookville, PA |
March 2008 |
9232 |
Demonstration |
1, A, B |
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General Notes:
1.This is the prototype for Brookville Equipment's new CoGeneration line of multi-powered road switchers. Those units are capable of running not only by multi-genset engines, but by electricity supplied by catenary, third rail, or batteries. As built, the prototype is a genset-only locomotive. From Brookville press releases and Brookville's CoGen page (http://www.brookvilleequipment.com/industrialswitchercogen.htm).
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Notes:
A. Serial number and build date provided by Brookville Equipment. Many thanks for their support in this project. Build plate is stamped with model CG1 according to a photo of the plate by Chris Palmieri.
B. BMEX 259 was released from Brookville for demonstration in early March, 2008, according to a press release from Brookville at that time. 2008 Demonstrations include: Buffalo & Pittsburg, DuBois, PA (March 2008); Norfolk Southern, Roanoke, VA (March-July 2008); CSX Transportation, Hagerstown, MD (July-Sept. 2008); BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, TX (early 2009); Pacific Harbor Line, Long Beach, CA (Spring 2009); Union Pacific, Roanoke, TX (July-August 2009); Modesto & Empire Traction, Modesto, CA (Aug.-Sept. 2009); Central California Traction, Port Stockton, CA (Sept. 2009). From Brookville and other sightings.
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History:
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Unit
Number |
Core Unit
Number |
Core Unit
Model |
Build
Date |
Builder's
Number |
Frame
Number |
Orig.
Number |
2nd
Number |
3rd
Number |
4th
Number |
5th
Number |
Notes |
BMEX 259 |
MEC 259 |
EMD GP38 |
Nov. 1966 |
32668 |
7946-9 |
MEC 259 |
BMEX 259 |
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A, B |
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Notes:
A. Originally built as a GP38 by EMD. Rebuilt by Brookville for CoGen line.
B. Previous unit identified by Extra 2200 South #130, pg. 7. History by the Unofficial EMD Homepage. (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/) and the Maine Central All-time Diesel Locomotive Roster (http://www.trainweb.org/trains/MECROS.HTM)
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Model: BL14CG
1,400 hp 2-engine genset locomotive, engines: 2 - Cummins QSK19 (700hp each) on 4 axles.
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Roster:
Owner: |
Unit
Number: |
Donor
Unit: |
Originally
Built: |
Converted
At: |
New Build
Date: |
Serial
Number: |
Used
At:
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Notes: |
MetroNorth RR |
MNRR 401 |
New |
N/A |
Brookville, PA |
Oct. 2008 |
9256 |
NY Commuter RR |
1, A, B |
MetroNorth RR |
MNRR 402 |
New |
N/A |
Brookville, PA |
Nov. 2008 |
9257 |
NY Commuter RR |
1, A, B |
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General Notes:
1. Serial number and build date provided by Brookville Equipment. Many thanks for their support in this project.
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Notes:
A. Built for New York MTA, probably for work train service. 401 and 402 were the first twin-genset CoGen locomotives built by Brookville.
B.According to Brookville, this unit was built on an all-new construction frame, but it rides on Flexicoil switcher trucks ala some of CN's GP7's. The flexicoil switcher trucks were selected for these units because of clearance issues.
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Model: BP-4 1,350 hp plug-in battery powered switcher, power: 1,080 12V deep cycle batteries, on 4 axles. Developed in cooperation with Thoroughbred Mechanical Service & Penn State University
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Roster:
Owner: |
Unit
Number: |
Donor
Unit: |
Originally
Built: |
Converted
At: |
New Build
Date: |
Serial
Number: |
Used
At:
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Notes: |
Norfolk Southern |
NS 999 |
PRR 2911 |
July 1969 |
TMS, Altoona, PA |
Aug. 2009 |
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Altoona, PA |
1, 2, A, B |
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General Notes:
1. Class BP-4 is a fully battery-powered locomotive, with 1,080 12-volt deep cycle truck batteries. It must be plugged in between uses. According to a report in the WeAreCentralPA.com coverage of the initial rollout, NS has 'two more prototypes on the drawing board', but that is not confirmed.
2. The BP-4's technology was developed jointly by Brookville Equipment, NS-owned Thoroughbred Mechanical Services, US Department of Transportation, and Penn State University.
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Notes:
A. The prototype was released in Aug. 2009 and unveiled formally at the end of September. From press release on NS website. (http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News Releases/2009/batteries.html)
B. According to a note in the NS newsletter, the NS 999 will be tested at NS's Rose Yard in Altoona, PA.
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History:
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Unit
Number |
Core Unit
Number |
Core Unit
Model |
Build
Date |
Builder's
Number |
Frame
Number |
Orig.
Number |
2nd
Number |
3rd
Number |
4th
Number |
5th
Number |
Notes |
NS 999 |
PRR 2911 |
EMD GP38 |
July 1969 |
35361 |
7191-58 |
PC 7732 |
CR 7732 |
PRR 2911 |
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A, B |
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Notes:
A. Originally built as a GP38 by EMD for Penn Central. To Conrail at merger, then to NS at the breakup of CR. NS assigned the unit the reporting marks of PRR while on-roster as a GP38. Rebuilt at TMS as a battery powered switcher, model BP-4.
B. Unit history from the Unofficial EMD Homepage, with core unit number from Chris Toth's NS Rosters page.
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Photos: (Click to enlarge)
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