Railpower Technologies

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Railpower Technologies Corp.
Type Public company
Founded 2001
Headquarters Brossard, Quebec, Canada[1]
Key people José Mathieu, President and CEO
Norman R. Gish, Chairman
Industry Rail transport
Products Low emission diesel locomotives, hybrid power plants for cranes and heavy-duty equipment
Website www.railpower.com

Railpower Technologies Corp. (TSXP) is a Canadian company that builds environmentally friendly hybrid yard locomotives, founded by Frank Donnelly and Gerard Koldyk. Its "Green Goat" locomotives have been purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad among others. It is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

A Green Goat demonstrator.
A Green Goat demonstrator.

Their locomotive models include the Green Goat (GG) and Green Kid (GK) series. Created from older locomotives, these units are deployed in services where there is a lot of idle time, such as yard switching. Below the frame they are the same as their pre-recycled locomotive. Above the frame they are new, with all new hood and cab assemblies. Some of the units built for BNSF have virtually no cab at all, as BNSF specified the locomotives to be equipped with remote control technology.[1] A small generator and a large bank of batteries power the locomotive. The generator is used to recharge the batteries. The locomotives meet the new EPA exhaust emissions standards.

Currently on the market are the GG10B, GG20B, and GK10B locomotives for switching duties and the RP20BH (two-engine hybrid) and RP20BD (three engine diesel) locomotives for light road duties. The B indicates two-axle trucks, the 10 or 20 is 1,000 or 2,000 horsepower respectively.

The hybrid technology developed for the locomotives is also being deployed for other applications, like container cranes (RTG) used in port terminals.

[edit] History

The company has been created in 2001 by American entrepreneur Frank Donnelly, then headquartered in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The company headquarter has moved to Brossard, Quebec in 2006. Jim Maier was its CEO up to 2005 and has been replaced by José Mathieu.

[edit] External links

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