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Following tests of big brother Green Goat™ by a Class I and short line, the Green Goat™ hybrid switcher locomotive now will be analyzed by a petroleum-product shipper.

On Sept. 30, Green Goat and Kid builder RailPower Technologies Corp. announced it reached an agreement with Chevron Products Co. and contract rail-service provider Railserve Inc. to begin a 30-day demonstration lease of the 1,000-horsepower locomotive at Chevron's El Segundo, Calif., refinery later this year.

If the test is successful, Railserve — the refinery's in-plant switching provider — plans to purchase a Green Kid for service in El Segundo.

"With Railserve's substantial industrial in-plant switching operations, we see this as an entry into the market where the RailPower product [can] bring substantial operational and environmental benefits," said RailPower President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Maier in a prepared statement.

Union Pacific Railroad and Pacific Harbor Line Inc. previously tested 2,000-horsepower Green Goats, which feature a small diesel generator and long-life batteries. The locomotives are designed to reduce NOx and diesel-particulate emissions 80 percent to 90 percent, and fuel consumption, about 50 percent, compared with a conventional switcher.

RailPower also recently reached an agreement with Seneca Group L.L.C. to help market the Green Goat and Green Kid locomotives to the U.S. government, short lines and regionals.

"They will help us develop our overall marketing strategy, [and] help lead us effectively into the short-line and regional railroad markets, transit and ports," said Maier. "They [also] will work with the Federal Railroad Administration to determine if the currently mandated 92-day inspection period for switchers can be lengthened without compromise to safety because of the technology improvements."