NS to road test two 'emission friendly' switchers in Pennsylvania

Norfolk Southern Corp. has released for road testing the first two "emission friendly" locomotives funded by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), the Class I announced yesterday.

The GP33ECO switching locomotives were released from NS' Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa. The locomotives meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 3 emission standard.

The two switchers are among 25 locomotives partially funded by CMAQ for production by NS. After in-service testing is completed in the Altoona area, the units will be permanently assigned to their respective grant award areas in Chicago and Atlanta.

Funding for the Chicago-area locomotive was awarded by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency, sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation; funding for the Atlanta-area switcher was awarded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division.

Dedication ceremonies for the switchers will occur in the next several months, NS officials said in a press release.