Prototype News

Union Pacific has announced the arrival of two new Wabtec FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives in Southern California, where testing will soon begin in the greater Los Angeles area. These units are the first of four to be delivered to the railroad, with two more arriving in October to be tested alongside the others.

Extensive testing will cover a variety of railroad operations, including switching duties and servicing local customers. Each locomotive carries approximately 7,000 battery cells, provides about 2.7 megawatt-hours of energy storage and produces zero tailpipe emissions during operation.

The locomotives are part of UP’s broader efforts to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and advance technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Union Pacific has never been content to stand still,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “Our industry is constantly evolving, and if we’re not exploring what’s next, we risk being left behind. Testing technologies like battery-electric locomotives help us to better understand what’s possible by putting these emerging technologies to work in actual railroad operations.”

Wabtec is an American rail equipment company formed through the 1999 merger of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company and MotivePower. In 2019, it acquired General Electric’s transportation division, the largest producer of diesel locomotives in North America. The FLXdrive locomotives are the company’s first to be battery-electric powered. 

— Nick Stewart

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The Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad marked three decades of operation with its “Celebrate 30” events on Sept. 25–27, based in Thomaston, Conn. More than 150 people attended the festivities, which coincided with the 177th anniversary of the original Naugatuck Railroad, which first opened on September 25, 1849.

The museum and railroad began operations on September 26, 1996, with special excursions running south to Waterbury, Conn. on Saturday and north to Torrington, Conn. on Sunday to mark the occasion.

Leading the trains was Naugatuck Railroad 2798, a General Electric U23B that previously served Conrail and later Providence & Worcester. The locomotive was repainted this year in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Photo run-bys were offered as part of these excursions.

Invited guests included elected officials, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and Stephen Lewis, President and CEO of Thomaston Savings Bank, who sponsored the event and has supported the railroad with grants since the late 1990s.

The Naugatuck Railroad is a common carrier short line owned and operated by the nonprofit Railroad Museum of New England. Its roots trace back to the 1960s, with a mission to preserve and interpret New England’s rich railroad history. Thirty years ago, volunteers launched scenic excursion operations on a state-owned former New Haven route between Waterbury and Torrington. With community support, the fire-damaged Thomaston station was rebuilt, aided by Thomaston Savings Bank and others, while the 20-mile rail line was upgraded with support from the State of Connecticut.

Thomaston serves as the base of operations for the railroad, and a new yard and restoration shop was constructed just south of there in 2007, allowing the museum to expand their fleet of equipment.

— Nick Stewart

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Union Pacific 5511, a 2-10-2 “TTT-6” steam locomotive, has passed a hydrostatic test according to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America. This marks another major step in its restoration.

Earlier this month, the locomotive’s boiler was filled with water for the first time in 70 years. Over the course of four days, the boiler was heated to 120 degrees using propane and electric heaters. This comes after the locomotive had a new front tube sheet installed early this year along with new tubes and flues.

5511’s maximum allowable working pressure is 200 PSI, but the Federal Railroad Administration requires that the water in a hydrostatic test be pressurized 1.25 times higher than the MWAP, meaning that the water was pressurized to 250 PSI. 

The group passed the hydro test on 5511 under FRA inspection, allowing the group to move on to the next goal in the restoration, which is a live steam test. 

RRHMA intends to complete the FRA-witnessed steam test within the upcoming winter season. 

Locomotive 5511 was built in 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works to haul heavy freight trains on the UP system. After being removed from active service in 1956, the locomotive served as a stationary boiler in both Ogden, Ut. and Green River, Wyo. 

In December 1958, it was used in the filming of UP’s documentary Last of The Giants, which covered the final years of operation for the railroad’s 4-8-8-4 Big Boy locomotives. 5511 was no longer in service by this point, and the engine was attached to a string of freight cars with a diesel pushing at the rear while tires were burned in the smokebox to create the illusion of a working steam locomotive. 

The locomotive was stored in Green River until 1968 when it was moved to Cheyenne, Wyo. Union Pacific donated the locomotive to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America in 2022.

-Nick Stewart

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