CPKC hydrogen locomotive wraps up first test phase

Canadian Pacific Kansas City's CP 1200, the Class I's high-horsepower hydrogen locomotive, reached a milestone earlier this month when it successfully completed its first phase of testing that involved hauling both loaded and empty bulk trains.

On Sept. 4, the CP 1200 and its dedicated fuel tender CP 10001 joined a consist that included three diesel locomotives and 152 loaded gondolas. Together, they pulled a fully loaded bulk train from Sparwood to Golden, British Columbia. On Sept. 5, the hydrogen locomotive assisted in the return of 152 empty gondolas back to Sparwood, according to a post on the Class I's website.

The test was a success, according to Kyle Mulligan, CPKC's assistant vice president of operations technology.

"Our team has worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, advancing our hydrogen locomotive program and steering the industry towards a low-carbon future," Mulligan said.

The test is part of CPKC's pilot program in collaboration with Glencore, formerly Teck Resources Ltd., and is the first of three testing phases designed to validate the reliability of high-horsepower hydrogen locomotives.

For more information on CPKC’s hydrogen locomotive program, read this cover story from Progressive Railroading’s August issue.