Wabtec celebrates 10 years of Evolution Series Tier 4 locomotives, marking a decade of cleaner technology and operational excellence that transformed North American freight railroads. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

BNSF Railway first adopted these AC-traction locomotives to meet the EPA’s Tier 4 standards. Among the initial units, No. 3911 surpassed one million miles since entering service in 2015, averaging 275 miles daily across the Southern Transcon corridor.

Wabtec and UGL delivered the first Evolution locomotive for Pacific National

Today, BNSF operates 360 Tier 4 locomotives, the largest fleet in North America. In total, Wabtec and predecessor GE have delivered 1,178 units to major carriers, including Canadian Pacific Kansas City as part of its 100-unit order.

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Wabtec Leads the Tier 4 Locomotive Market

The Evolution Series includes ET44AC, ET44AH, ET44C4, and ET44ACi models, collectively logging over 500 million miles and nearly 10,000 years of combined operation. These achievements underline Wabtec’s dominance in advanced locomotive technology.

Developing a compliant engine without sacrificing power was a challenge. Rather than modify the old FDL engine, GE created the GEVO12-LDD engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), reducing nitrogen oxide by 70% compared to Tier 3 while delivering 4,365 tractive horsepower.

Unlike other heavy equipment makers that used after-treatment with urea, Wabtec avoided complexity in fueling operations. This innovation positioned the company as a leader in emissions reduction technology.

Wabtec Innovations Shape Future Rail Technology

Continuous upgrades improved reliability and fuel efficiency. Enhancements in EGR systems, fuel injection, AC traction motor control, and cooling technology boosted performance. Tools like TripOptimizer smart cruise control and health monitoring further optimized operations.

The locomotives also support biodiesel blends, renewable diesel, and LNG. Wabtec is developing hydrogen-fueled solutions, ensuring the Evolution Series acts as a bridge toward a low-carbon future.

Adoption rates keep rising. Besides BNSF’s 360 units, CN runs 296, and CPKC operates 133. CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific maintain sizable fleets, reinforcing Wabtec’s leadership in Tier 4 technology for decades ahead.

Source: www.trains.com

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