Richmond Pacific Railroad Corp. (RPRC), a division of Levin Richmond Terminal Corp., has recommissioned one of its legacy EMD switcher locomotives as a repowered, EPA Tier 4-compliant unit. Western Rail, Inc. designed and built the unit at its Usk, Wash. facility.
Originally built in January 1982 as EMD MP15DC No. 1370 for the Missouri Pacific, later Union Pacific, the locomotive, renumbered 25, has been modernized with a Cummins QST30 diesel engine, Kato traction alternator and TMV Control Systems electrical gear, and redesignated an MP15CC. The unit is rated at 1,500 hp. Bay Area Air Quality Management District provided grant funding for this project. RPRC noted it initiated the project “to reduce emissions and improve operational efficiency. Western Rail, Inc. was selected for its innovative approach. With this investment, we. continues to lead by example in the short line rail industry, offering efficient, environmentally responsible service to customers throughout the Bay Area.”
No. 25, RPRC’s third Tier 4 locomotive, is one of just eight such switchers currently in operation at railroads of its size in California.
“We’re excited to bring this next-generation locomotive into service as part of our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said RPRC Director of Operations Jeffery Schwab. “Western Rail has been an exceptional partner throughout the process. Their team demonstrated impressive expertise and attention to detail in this project’s planning and execution.”
“This project is another example of our long-term investment in environmental stewardship and operational excellence,” said Levin Richmond Terminal Corp. CEO Chris Schaeffer. We’re proud to support a rail operation that not only serves the industrial needs of the region but does so with a clear focus on sustainability and future-ready technology.”
Richmond Pacific Railroad Corp. is a Class III serving the Port of Richmond, Calif., and surrounding industrial areas on 10 miles of track. As a division of Levin Richmond Terminal Corp., RPRC specializes in switching, railcar storage and transloading services, connecting 18 local industry customers with Union Pacific’s Martinez Subdivision and BNSF’s Stockton Subdivision. Levin Richmond Terminal Corp. is a multi-commodity marine and rail terminal operator. RPRC was formerly the Parr Terminal Railroad (PRT), incorporated in July 1950 as an S&T (switching & terminal) railroad to take over Parr-Richmond Industrial Corp.’s private railroad.
