Union Pacific to test line-haul locomotive with urea-SCR

22 May 2009

Union Pacific Railroad and Progress Rail Services announced their plan to launch the initial operation of an ultra clean diesel SD40-2 locomotive for intermediate line haul service. Equipped with urea-SCR aftertreatment, this customer evaluation unit will begin Union Pacific operations this month with an initial revenue-service run between San Antonio and Fort Worth, TX.

The Progress Rail PR30C-LoNOx Locomotive has been re-powered with a single 3,005 hp Caterpillar 3516 engine that meets EPA Tier 2 emission standards. The engine was retrofitted with an advanced emission control technology, including a diesel oxidation catalyst followed by a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit, where NOx emissions are reduced by more than 90%.

The test represents the first SCR application for large mobile engines within the rail industry, according to Progress Rail. Additional prototypes, all powered by Caterpillar model 3516, 3005 hp diesel engines, will be retrofitted and tested with this system. Progress Rail, a Caterpillar subsidiary, is one of the largest providers of outsourced maintenance and repair services to the railroad industry in North America.

NOx aftertreatment technologies, such as urea-SCR, are expected to be widely used on Tier 4 railway locomotives. Tier 4 locomotive emission standards become effective in 2015.

Source: Union Pacific