Newburgh & South Shore Railroad dedicates locomotive in memory of its longest serving employee
CLEVELAND, Nov. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Newburgh & South Shore Railroad (NSR), an affiliate of the comprehensive supply-chain and logistics solutions provider OmniTRAX, has deployed its first all-battery electric locomotive with a ceremony that included dignitaries from Ohio’s Environmental Agency, the Port of Cleveland, AMPS Traction, and NSR customers. The new AMPS Traction G9, the first electric locomotive deployed by a shortline railroad in Ohio, will service its northern Ohio rail lines. The battery electric switching locomotive is a 250,000 lb. FRA compliant unit with technology to reduce fuel consumption by half and cut NOx emissions and particulate matter 77%.
“Electric locomotives play an important role in our industry and AMPS Traction’s innovative technology is the perfect addition to our fleet,” said OmniTRAX President and COO Sergio Sabatini. “We will continue to invest in technologies that help keep our communities clean and safe, and we are thankful to Governor DeWine and Ohio EPA for the grant program that has made this emission-saving equipment upgrade possible.”
NSR Locomotive 1234, the newly deployed all-battery locomotive, was then dedicated in the memory of beloved OmniTRAX Divisional Track Engineer Steve Ward. As the company’s longest serving employee, Ward oversaw the safety and maintenance of track throughout the OmniTRAX network for 27 years until his passing in 2021. OmniTRAX President and COO Sergio Sabatini performed the dedication and honored Ward’s family in attendance.
NSR was selected as a grantee from the $75M Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund, overseen by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Fund awards eligible applicants with grants that support the demonstratable improvement of air quality.
Based in Cuyahoga County, NSR serves rail customers in the greater Cleveland area. The NSR was one of seven grantees awarded for projects that reduce emissions from diesel vehicles and equipment.