An Investigation and Analysis of Norfolk Southern Railway’s BP4 Battery Locomotive Project

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Scanlon, Thomas
Area of Honors:
Rail Transportation Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Shihui Shen, Thesis Supervisor
Lisa Ann Emili, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
BP4
NS
Norfolk Southern
NS 999
Battery
Locomotive
Rail
Railroad
Railway
Electric
Battery Locomotive
Battery-Electric Locomotive
Hybrid Locomotive
Alternative Fuel Locomotive
Train
Sustainable
Sustainability
Zero Emissions
Zero-Emission Locomotive
NS BP4
Norfolk Southern BP4
Norfolk Southern 999
999
Lead-Acid
Lead-Carbon
Lithium-Ion
Rail Engineering
Class I
Decarbonization
Green
Regenerative Braking
Battery Management
Norfolk Southern Sustainability Initiatives
Abstract:
Norfolk Southern Railway’s (NS) BP4 battery locomotive project was one of the earliest major studies exploring the use of battery technology in 21st-century rail propulsion. The project combined laboratory analysis with practical testing of an NS-built prototype locomotive (known as the “BP4”) to support the development of battery-based rail propulsion technology and analytical models simulating the operating characteristics and impacts of hybrid (i.e., combined battery and diesel-electric) locomotives. Despite its early contributions to modern battery locomotive research, the BP4 project has been subject to significant public criticism and has developed a largely negative reputation. A thorough analysis of the BP4 project was conducted to determine whether its negative public perception is justified, utilizing information from technical reports, project publications, and personal interviews with engineering and administrative personnel involved in the project. The analysis focused on the BP4 project’s technical challenges, research contributions, primary findings, and reasons for cancellation, and compared them to criticisms commonly expressed by the public. The results of the analysis suggested that the BP4 project’s poor reputation is largely unjustified, with much of its negative public perception appearing to be based on misconceptions regarding the project’s objectives, timeline, and results. A clear understanding of the BP4 project’s achievements and obstacles, as well as how it developed its negative reputation, can help inform those involved in future battery locomotive initiatives and support the technical and public success of their research.