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Last week, Union Pacific Railroad unveiled the first of four generator-set (GenSet) switchers the Class I plans to use at its Roseville, Calif., yard.

The 2,000-horsepower locomotives will be powered by three 667-horsepower ultra-low-emission diesel engines designed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 3 emission standards. The GenSets can reduce nitrous oxides and particulate matter emissions by 80 percent and 90 percent, respectively, and cut fuel usage up to 30 percent compared with a conventional switcher.

The GenSets also will feature six traction motors instead of four to boost tractive effort.

Union Pacific began studying and testing GenSets in 2002. The railroad now employs 159 of the environmentally friendly locomotives in California and Texas.