LONDON — A British company has announced plan to convert a 1980s diesel locomotive to a prototype of a zero-emission steam powered unit.
Rail equipment leasing firm Eversholt Rail Group said earlier this month it would convert a British Rail Class 60 locomotive, a C-C unit built by Brush Traction, in a partnership with Steamology, a start-up company in West Dawn, Hampshire, with a focus on green steam technology.
According to a press release, the Class 60’s power plant will be replaced with 20 steam generators, four steam turbines, and roughly 310 lbs. of gas storage. The equipment will use new technology, developed by Steamology, to generate high-pressure steam by burning hydrogen in oxygen within these modular generators, minus the generating of carbon emissions.
“Eversholt Rail has invested in many rail vehicle innovations and technology upgrades over the last 30 years,” client services director Paul Sutherland said. “We are delighted to bring this experience and our funding to this project, and we are excited to see where this technology goes.”
Arup and Freightliner have also been brought in to serve as consultants for the project. The conversion is currently planned for 2025 with tests to follow. If successful, similar modifications can be applied to other existing or newly built locomotives. All partners look to this technology in the long term as an efficient alternative to diesel power while complementing vast sections of the U.K. freight rail network lacking electrification.
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