By Railfan & Railroad Staff

MONTREAL — Canadian National announced this week it was purchasing a 100 percent battery-powered heavy-haul locomotive from Wabtec for use in Pennsylvania and Ohio on the former Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. The locomotive is being purchased with financial support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The news that CN is buying a battery-powered locomotive comes weeks after Wabtec announced it had sold a similar locomotive, the FLXdrive, to an Australian iron ore hauler. CN officials said the battery-powered locomotive will help the railroad meet its environmental goals. 

​​“As part of our sustainability strategy to reduce freight transportation emissions through innovation, we plan to continue to lead the sector by deploying low and no-carbon technologies,” said President and CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest. “At CN, we believe rail has a tremendous potential to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. As a mover of the economy, CN is committed to playing a key role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”