2005-12-D-5221

Image Number: 2005-12-D-5221

Rail Power Hybrid Locomotive 2401, Pacific Harbor Line Pier A Yard
(cat # 2005-12-D-5221)

A recent change in the ever-changing panoply to be seen around the Port of Los Angeles has been the advent of hybrid locomotive technology on Pacific Harbor Line. PHL has long been a great place to see a variety of power, from old Harbor Belt Line geeps and ex-Conrail SW-1200s to a number of SD-18s with many origins. However, the local air quality board has now identified diesel smoke from the harbor as the largest single contributor to smog in the smoggy Los Angeles Basin, so changes are now being made to reduce diesel smoke. Ships at the ports are being provided with electrical power from the docks so they don't have to rely upon their own engines for power while berthed. And the PHL is adopting hybrid technology as its contribution to the effort. RPPX 2401 is the first of what will likely be many such beasts that will soon be roaming the harbor rails, supplanting older geeps and SDs in the process. And so, in the twilight as Day in North America becomes night, the engineer of RPPX 2401 pauses while two switchmen climb aboard for the run to the West Basin with cars for the Tosco Refinery and Yang Ming. It has been an overcast day, and I had waited all day for the light to become worth photographing. It was at night around the Harbor under the megawatts of artificial light that the railroad scene finally came to life for my camera. I love the mystery of the night.

Update August 19, 2007