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OmniTRAX railroad purchases battery locomotive

By Trains Staff | March 3, 2022

| Last updated on March 22, 2024


Newburgh & South Shore becomes first Ohio short line to operate a battery-electric

Green and white locomotive
OmniTRAX affiliate Newburgh & South Shore has purchased a battery-electric locomotive from AMPS Traction. OmniTrax

CLEVELAND — OmniTRAX’s Newburgh & South Shore has purchased a battery-electric locomotive, becoming the first short line in Ohio to deploy such a unit.

The GP9-based locomotive from AMPS Traction features 1,700 gross horsepower, reduces fuel consumption by half, and cuts NOx emissions and particulate matter by 77%, removing 4.2 tones of nitrogen oxide from the atmosphere. The locomotive was funded with a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund.

“OmniTRAX is committed to operate safely and responsibly in the communities we serve, and AMPS Traction’s innovative technology is an important addition to our fleet and an important step for our industry,” OmniTRAX CEO Dean Piacente said in a press release. “We are thankful to Gov. [Mike] DeWine and Ohio EPA for their commitment to clean air and the grant program that has made this emission-saving equipment upgrade possible in our Ohio operations.”

The Newburgh & South Shore, originally built to serve Cleveland-area steel mills, operates 5 route-miles and 13 track-miles in the Cleveland area.

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