The British company Eversholt Rail Group intends to convert the British Rail Class 60 locomotive to a new propulsion system. The startup decided to use carbon-free energy to re-commission a once-popular railway vehicle.
2024 marks the 44th anniversary of the train. The existing British Rail Class 60 plant will be replaced by a system of 20 steam generators, four steam turbines and 140 kg of gas storage. The equipment is based on the technology developed by Steamology, which uses high-pressure steam.
Hydrogen enters the steam generators together with air. The mixture of steam, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen created in the process spins steam turbines that power electric generators. It is currently a project, with full testing of the unit scheduled for 2025.
If the British Rail Class 60 trials are successful, Eversholt Rail Group intends to use the hydrogen units on other locomotive models. Potentially, the technology can become an alternative to existing diesel fuel systems.