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BNSF is getting 4 EMD Joules for SoCal

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Posted by episette on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 7:38 PM

I am be wrong but are you saying that a battery "joule" locomotive would be a 3rd locomotive in a 3-unit consit with 2 standard deisel electrics, so the deisels could recharge the batteries underway? Would the Joule also be able to harvest the electrical energy from dynamic brakes to recharge the batteries?

 

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 10:29 AM

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: dual-mode-lite hybrid engine consists enabled with punctate electrification is the best future solution.

Eventually, you'd have "enough" electrification to make pure battery-electric locomotives more serviceable.  Very eventually.

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 10:15 AM

Sorry, that's what I meant, I should have been more precise. There would be value (to BNSF) to electrify from Port of LA/LB to Barstow potentially. In particular trains in shuttle service between the 2 points.

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Monday, October 3, 2022 10:26 PM

YoHo1975

I also wouldn't be surprised if BNSF Electrified the Cajon sub or portions of it.

I would be surprised if they did - the Cajon sub isn't long enough for a very cost effective use of locomotives. It would make a bit more sense if the Alameda Corridor was also electrified.

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, October 3, 2022 11:26 AM

Was just reading about that and was thinking the same thing.

 

I also wouldn't be surprised if BNSF Electrified the Cajon sub or portions of it.

 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 5:54 PM

These might find a home on shuttle trains to this facility.

https://bnsfcalifornia.com/barstow-international-gateway-project/

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Posted by bogie_engineer on Saturday, October 1, 2022 10:05 AM

It also could be the render from the CAD model of the SD70J just conveniently used the HTCR-6 fabricated frame bogie while the actual locos will use something different.

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 2:24 AM

bogie_engineer

Surprised they aren't using the HTCR bogies from retired SD70MAC's. Four pairs of trucks for prototypes like these should be easy to find.

Dave

 

 

I just assumed that's what they'd do to save money if nothing else. It seems like plenty of SD70s are hitting retirement now.

Maybe they see those as being better used in rebuild situations? I'd also assumed they were going to use recycled frames, but now I'm wondering if that's wrong too. 

I'm assuming the SD40J IS a rebuild and will ride on the HT-C they came with, but whose to say? Doesn't need a fuel tank so they could in theory fit larger bogies. 

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 2:21 AM

kgbw49

Apparently they will be using T4 bogies also.

 

Yes, that's what I just said.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Friday, September 30, 2022 6:56 PM

Apparently they will be using T4 bogies also.

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Posted by bogie_engineer on Friday, September 30, 2022 11:34 AM

Surprised they aren't using the HTCR bogies from retired SD70MAC's. Four pairs of trucks for prototypes like these should be easy to find.

Dave

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Friday, September 30, 2022 10:50 AM

Yeah that image was in the initial promo shots from EMD on twitter.

 

Note also the Fabricated bogies. 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Thursday, September 29, 2022 7:11 PM

This article has a graphic representation of the SD70J. Has the T4 cab.

https://railway-news.com/us-bnsf-orders-four-emd-sd70j-locomotives-from-progress-rail/

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 10:08 PM

Shadow the Cats owner

Just one question were is BNSF going to find the power to recharge them.  Remember that California is telling their own residents that no EV charging during the day and there's been rolling blackouts all over the state at times this summer.  

 

 

And then they turned on all the back up generators and met demand and there were no rolling blackouts.

 

But that's of course irrelevant. AS was already stated Charge during the morning and mid day when the sun is at it's peak and AC is not fully utilized. That's the beauty of batteries. You don't need to CONSTANTLY charge them. You can charge them when there is exess capacity. 

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 9:46 PM

The best time for re-charging would be between 9AM and 1 to 2PM. This when the the PV production is near maximum and the demand for A/C hasn't fully developed. This would also help with the "solar duck" problem as the baseload generation would not have to be turned down so much.

One problem: 9AM to 2PM re-charging times may not work well with railroad operations.

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 10:34 AM

Just one question were is BNSF going to find the power to recharge them.  Remember that California is telling their own residents that no EV charging during the day and there's been rolling blackouts all over the state at times this summer.  

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 9:15 AM

I suspect they are experimenting to see what the use cases turn out to be, and how well the different types of unit perform in service.  

I trust RPS Fullerton will be watching the show, and carefully taking notes...

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BNSF is getting 4 EMD Joules for SoCal
Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, September 26, 2022 10:50 AM

https://www.progressrail.com/en/Company/News/PressReleases/ProgressRailtoSupplyBNSFwithZeroExhaustEmissionLocomotivestoDemonstrateinSouthernCalifornia.html

SD70J models.

So now UP and BNSF will be getting Joules.

 

So it will be interesting if these units will be in different service than the GE units. I assume that at least right now, GE and EMD battery units would be kept separate. They don't seem to be equivelant in the way that an ES/ET44 and an SD70ACe/T-4 are.

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