Port of Montreal buys more green locomotives

The Port of Montreal bought two more multiple-generator locomotives that burn less fuel and produce less carbon emissions than previous models, the Journal of Commerce reported.

The Montreal Port Authority said it signed an agreement with R.J. Corman Railpower to buy the new locomotives, each of which has a capacity of 2,000 horsepower. In March, the port bought a next-generation locomotive for $1.6 million and announced plans to buy four more.

The first of this type of locomotive that the port authority bought from Corman was delivered to in October 2010. The technology used by R.J. Corman Railpower was developed in Canada by Railpower.

GenSet locomotives make it possible to reduce diesel consumption thanks to a power-regulating device that can start up one, two or all three generators, depending on the size of the task at hand. When the locomotive remains stationary for more than five minutes, the on-board computer puts the locomotive into standby mode, shutting off all the generators.

This system helps reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent.