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Union Pacific Railroad has passed the tire-kicking stage on RailPower Technologies Corp.’s Green Goat® switcher. Yesterday, the Class I announced it’s placing an $8.2 million order for 10 of the hybrid locomotives, which will operate in the railroad’s southern California yards. In April, UP leased a Green Goat for its Fresno, Calif., yard after testing the switcher at its Roseville, Calif., and Chicago yards between second-half 2002 and first-half 2003.

The order will help satisfy a memorandum of understanding between UP, BNSF Railway Co. and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under which the railroads agreed to reduce particulate emissions about 20 percent at their yards by June 2008.

RailPower will begin delivering the locomotives later this year; delivery will be completed in early 2006.

“These hybrid locomotives are part of the company’s commitment to air quality in California,” said Bob Grimaila, UP vice president of environment and safety, in a prepared statement.

Featuring 130-horsepower diesel generators and long-life recyclable batteries, Green Goats are designed to reduce NOx and other emissions 50 percent to 80 percent, and cut fuel usage about 50 percent compared with conventional switchers.

Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern recently ordered 35 and two Green Goats, respectively. BNSF is leasing five of the switchers, and the other Class Is either are testing or have tested the locomotive.