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Description
The Tacoma Municipal Belt Line, or Tacoma Rail, now runs at least 1 nice new 3GS21B.
These locomotives have 3 big truck style 700 HP engines with each one connected to a generator. If power demand is decreased engines will go into idle. If the locomotive is sitting still long enough, all 3 engines will shut down. As power demand increases, engines start up and increase output automatically. They are efficient and less polluting than conventional locomotives in the same size/weight/HP class.
Maint costs for these are very similar to something like an EMD GP38 series which is in a similar size/weight/HP class.
The reason for such low costs despite multiple prime movers? Standardized industrial engines. These engines are to be found on roads and highways all over the continent. Not to mention construction areas and backup power plants. They are reliable and well known to diesel mechanics. A typical truck shop or heavy equipment shop could easily handle an overhaul of the diesel engine prime mover. All 3 gensets are mounted on removable skids for easy removal should one of them go down prematurely.

Description
The Tacoma Municipal Belt Line, or Tacoma Rail, now runs at least 1 nice new 3GS21B.
These locomotives have 3 big truck style 700 HP engines with each one connected to a generator. If power demand is decreased engines will go into idle. If the locomotive is sitting still long enough, all 3 engines will shut down. As power demand increases, engines start up and increase output automatically. They are efficient and less polluting than conventional locomotives in the same size/weight/HP class.
Maint costs for these are very similar to something like an EMD GP38 series which is in a similar size/weight/HP class.
The reason for such low costs despite multiple prime movers? Standardized industrial engines. These engines are to be found on roads and highways all over the continent. Not to mention construction areas and backup power plants. They are reliable and well known to diesel mechanics. A typical truck shop or heavy equipment shop could easily handle an overhaul of the diesel engine prime mover. All 3 gensets are mounted on removable skids for easy removal should one of them go down prematurely.