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Tacoma Rail recently compared National Railway Equipment Co.’s (NREC) four-axle N-ViroMotive™ GenSet locomotive with an older Electro-Motive Diesel four-axle switcher during a two-week test.

The results? NREC’s two-engine, 1,400-horsepower N-ViroMotive reduced idle time by 80 percent, cut fuel consumption by 70 percent and decreased air emissions up to 85 percent, according to a statement released by NREC. In addition, Tacoma Rail sometimes operated one N-ViroMotive locomotive instead of two switchers and reduced sand usage more than 80 percent because of the GenSet unit’s improved traction, NREC said.

The railroad tested the N-ViroMotive switcher during normal operations at its Tacoma, Wash., yard. Tacoma Rail managers and maintenance staff, and representatives from the city of Tacoma, Washington Department of Ecology/Air Quality, Port of Tacoma and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency witnessed the tests.

Owned by Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma Rail operates 204 track miles in three separate divisions.