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The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Co. (ACWR) recently completed an “Eco-Motive” project that called for converting a soon-to-be-scrapped locomotive into a “mate” or “slug” unit to help reduce fuel usage and cut emissions.

The mate, which has no diesel engine, is pulled behind a “mother” locomotive, which provides electrical power for the mate’s traction motors. The mate adds tractive effort — such as for pulling a 50-car grain train — without increasing fuel consumption, said ACWR President Robert Menzies, whose family has owned the short line since 1987, in a prepared statement.

“The ability to ‘dig in’ is so important when you start to move freight. It makes our railroad even more fuel efficient,” he said, adding that ACWR expects to save $250,000 in fuel costs annually because of the mate.

The railroad is constantly seeking new ways to be “green” and "keep costs down,” said Vice President of Marketing Russ Smitley.

“Much like the innovative work we are doing with our locomotive fleet, Aberdeen [North Carolina] is about growing and finding development sites for businesses,” he said. “We’re interested in long-term relationships with businesses that are environmentally friendly.”

ACWR operates a 160-mile line that runs through six south-central North Carolina counties. The short line interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Corp., and moves agriculture, construction, forest and consumer products, and liquid fuels.