Brightline marks installation of engine in first locomotive

Florida-based passenger-rail venture Brightline announced Tuesday that an engine was installed into its first diesel-electric locomotive at Siemens' manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif.

An overhead crane lowered the engine into Brightline's first locomotive.Photo: Brightline

Installation of the 31,000-pound Cummins QSK95 engine took about six hours, during which the engine was lowered into the locomotive by an overhead crane.

Built in Indiana, the 16-cylinder engine will provide up to 4,000 horsepower. The engine also meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emission standards.

Brightline's trains are composed of two locomotives and four stainless steel passenger cars. The trains can be extended to include up to 10 passenger cars as the system and ridership grows, Brightline officials said in a press release.

The first completed trainset is expected to be delivered to Brightline in Florida later this year, with service scheduled to begin in mid-2017. The service will connect Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, Fla.

Brightline is being privately developed by All Aboard Florida, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries LLC.