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Pacific Harbor Line Inc. (PHL) recently won a San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Award from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif.

One of eight recipients, the 59-mile short line obtained the honor for “taking extraordinary steps” to reduce air emissions, according to a prepared statement. PHL replaced and expanded its locomotive fleet with “greener” equipment, including 22 clean-diesel locomotives acquired in the past two years. The motive power helped the railroad reduce particulate emissions by 70 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 46 percent, and cut fuel usage 7 percent to 9 percent.

Winners were selected by a panel that included representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ports created the awards last year to further the goals of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, which calls for reducing emissions 45 percent by 2012 from trains, ships, trucks and other heavy equipment.