Weekend Feature
A locomotive built more than 40 years ago has been rebuilt and returned to service in Richmond, this time with a cleaner-burning engine funded in part by a regional air quality grant.
Richmond Pacific Railroad said the 1982-built locomotive, originally constructed for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and later operated by Union Pacific, has been repowered with a new Cummins QST30 engine designed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s strict Tier IV emissions standards.
“The BAAQMD grant was a Carl Moyer Memorial Program grant. It was in the amount of $670,000,” said Malcolm Whyte, chief administrative officer of Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation, which owns Richmond Pacific. “The locomotive cost was $2,683,820, so we picked up the remaining $2,013,820 to put the lower emission equipment into service.”
Company officials framed the rebuild as part of their broader environmental commitments.
“This project is another example of our commitment to environmentally sound transportation services,” said Chris Schaeffer, CEO of Richmond Pacific Railroad and Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation, in a statement. “We’re proud to provide a rail operation that not only serves the industrial needs of our regional and international customers but does so with a clear focus on sustainability and emission-reducing technology.”
Jeffery Schwab, the railroad’s director of operations, emphasized the operational shift as well.
“We’re excited to bring this next-generation locomotive into service as part of our commitment to reducing emissions from our operations,” Schwab said. “Western Rail has been an exceptional partner throughout the process. Their team demonstrated impressive expertise and attention to detail in both the planning and execution of this project.”
Richmond Pacific is a small, privately owned short-line that serves industrial customers along the waterfront and connects them to national rail lines. The railroad says the upgrade means its entire active fleet now meets Tier IV standards.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM - SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Grandview Independent needs your financial support to continue delivering the news that matters to our community. Quality journalism costs money, and we can't do it without readers like you.
SUBSCRIBE NOW and get:
• Unlimited access to all articles
• Newsletters with exclusive content
• The satisfaction of backing independent local news that serves your community
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE - Starting at just $10/month
FOLLOW US FOR BREAKING NEWS:
• Twitter: @GrandviewIndy
• Instagram: @GrandviewIndependent
• Facebook: @Grandview Independent
Copyright © 2025 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.
Members Discussion