Now in service at Class II Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) is the first of four HFC (hydrogen fuel cell)-powered, ZE (zero-emission) four-axle switcher locomotives.
Developed with SNR subsidiary Railpower Technologies and “designed, built, and tested in West Sacramento (Calif.)” the locomotive is described as “the first [of its type] in the United States built specifically for freight rail.” The project was made possible through a P3 (public-private partnership). The California Energy Commission awarded $4 million to design and demonstrate the prototype. In 2023, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District provided $19.5 million to for three additional locomotives. In addition to Railpower, technology partners include GTI Energy, OptiFuel Systems LLC, Ballard Power Systems and the University of California, Riverside.
The locomotive, No. 193, completed testing on March 27, 2025, and is now in regular service. SNR plans to have four of these units in service by 2027, “with a long-term goal of converting its entire fleet and eventually commercializing the technology.”
This prototype locomotive, equipped with with onboard storage and advanced battery integration, reduces the railroad’s annual diesel fuel consumption “by about 10,000 gallons,” SNR noted. “Statewide, California’s 260 switcher locomotives each consume an average of 50,000 gallons per year, according to industry estimates. Converting them to hydrogen power could cut more than 12 million gallons of diesel annually—the equivalent of removing nearly 20,000 cars from the road.
SNR said it plans to leverage FastOx® gasification technology, developed by sister company Sierra Energy, to produce clean hydrogen fuel for its locomotives. This technology convert waste into hydrogen, “creating a sustainable fuel source while reducing dependence on landfills,” SNR added. Sierra Energy currently operates a 20-metric-ton-per-day gasification facility at Fort Hunter Liggett in California, where post-recycled waste “Is transformed into clean electricity—a model that can be adapted to generate hydrogen for freight rail. Hydrogen power, already used in buses, trucks, and passenger rail, has now been adapted for freight through rigorous safety testing and redundant onboard systems that meet all state and federal standards. The project supports California jobs in engineering, construction, and operations while contributing to a growing clean energy supply chain that can scale nationally.”
“This is a milestone not only for Sierra Northern but for the future of freight in California and beyond,” said Kennan H. Beard III, President and CEO of Sierra Northern Railway. “Hydrogen locomotives offer a proven, scalable way to deliver cleaner air while keeping goods moving efficiently.”
“This was a team effort,” said Michael Faust, President and CEO of Railpower. “The strong alliances have shown that hydrogen freight solutions are scalable, cost-effective and ready for real-world use.”
“This launch marks a pivotal moment in the rail industry’s transition away from diesel,” said Mike Hart, CEO of Sierra Railroad Company. “This demonstrates California’s innovation in delivering cleaner air for local communities while creating scalable solutions for the nation’s freight network.”
SNR, headquartered in West Sacramento, operates freight and passenger rail across California with divisions in Oakdale, Ventura and Fort Bragg. Founded in 1897, the company provides freight transportation, transloading, infrastructure development, and scenic passenger services. Sierra Railroad Company includes SNR, Mendocino Railway, Sierra Energy and passenger services such as the Skunk Train and River Fox Train. The company has operated in California since the 19th century. Railpower Technologies (which SNR acquired from RJ Corman Railroad Group in February 2025) designs and manufactures low-emission locomotives across North America. Its platforms include hybrid battery and HFC locomotives engineered for freight duty cycles. Sierra Energy Corporation uses FastOx® gasification to convert waste into clean energy. Its commercial facility at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., processes up to 20 metric tons of waste per day.
