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  • Smart battery powered freight bogies for containers

  • For topics on Class I and II passenger and freight operations more general in nature and not specifically related to a specific railroad with its own forum.
For topics on Class I and II passenger and freight operations more general in nature and not specifically related to a specific railroad with its own forum.

Moderator: Jeff Smith

 #1589909  by Pensyfan19
 
UP may be the first customer:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... odal-cars/
CULVER CITY, Calif. — Union Pacific has expressed interest in a new autonomous battery-electric intermodal car concept developed by a group headed by three former Space X engineers.

The concept under development by Parallel Systems would see intermodal containers carried by pairs of powered battery-electric wheelsets, moving in “platoons” of cars, but capable of splitting off to individual destinations en route. The company went public with its plan this week, saying it has raised $49.55 million for construction of the vehicles, as reported by CNBC, Fast Company, and other media outlets.

“We are interested in the Parallel System’s technology. We are familiar with it, and it is of interest. It’s of keen interest,” Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call Thursday. “Candidly there are a lot of hurdles in front of that technology for deployment. Having said that, it could potentially be a game-changer if it proves out to be effective and workable. So I’d say keep your eye on it. We’re keeping our eye on it.”
 #1590025  by toolmaker
 
Great explanation on how many hurdles there are. For instance, no double stack containers. The shipping containers on bogies are not a sufficient substitute for a railcar frame. Customers would need automatic switch stands.

https://youtu.be/nJNvpG5gktM

SpaceX Engineers *derogatory*

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 #1590299  by Pensyfan19
 
Thanks for posting that here! I'm a fan of that channel and watch many of his videos often. He makes great points and he also has other videos on local freight by electrified rail, how to fix Metra, and nationalizing the freight railroads.