Progress Rail Completes Emissions Testing for EMD24B, Tier 4 Switch Locomotive

Progress Rail has announced it has successfully completed initial emissions testing of its new, repower locomotive — the EMD24B — and has begun the process of certifying the locomotive per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent Tier 4 emissions standards. The EMD24B locomotive will now start the California Air Resources Board’s 3,000-hour in-service verification testing, first with Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. (PHL).

Rated at 2,000 horsepower, the EMD24B comes equipped with a Cat 3512C HD engine and aftertreatment technologies proven to lower emissions. The EMD24B utilizes rebuilt EMD-style locomotive components, and has been constructed with a remanufactured underframe and cab from an existing EMD GP-40 locomotive. This pre-1973 locomotive core, which was originally developed based on "unregulated" emissions standards, has been remanufactured to meet the latest emissions standards, aligning with Caterpillar and Progress Rail’s sustainability values.

“In 2010, PHL took part in one of our largest repower projects to date by modernizing an existing locomotive fleet with cleaner burning engines. Today, we’re pleased to continue that legacy of collaborating for cleaner air, through our latest testing efforts for our Tier 4 ready switcher locomotive,” said Progress Rail’s Chief Executive Officer and Caterpillar Senior Vice President, Billy Ainsworth. “The EMD24B demonstrates our commitment to customers through its reliability and sustainability, while emphasizing Caterpillar’s broad engine expertise, with a strong focus on lowering emissions, maintaining fuel efficiency and safety.”

The design and manufacture of the EMD24B involved various teams within the company; including Progress Rail’s repower engineering team, employees from the company’s Patterson, Georgia facility, and its Brazilian subsidiary, Zeit, which provided the locomotive’s control system.

Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. President Otis Cliatt II said, “PHL is pleased to once again partner with Progress Rail in our ongoing effort to achieve the lowest possible emissions within the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. We are eager to test the EMD24B locomotive, which employs the latest technology and represents a very important step toward meeting the stringent clean-air standards of the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. EPA. The EMD24B’s operation on PHL will offer a challenging range of speed, direction and tonnage associated with a busy terminal.”