Battery Operated Locomotives Coming

More battery operated cars and trucks are making their way on to streets and highways, so why not trains? That may not be too far off if BNSF tests are successful.

BNSF and Wabtec (formerly GE Transportation) are developing a battery-electric high-horsepower road locomotive--the type that moves freight trains between Seattle and Chicago. Once all the equipment and support systems are in place, the plan is to run tests between Stockton and Barstow, Calif., (350 miles) beginning in late 2020.

BNSF and other railroads are already using low-horsepower battery-electric locomotives in urban rail yar...