Severn Valley Ry. Converting Diesel Shunter to Hydrogen

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:42 pm

[insert "Hindenburg" jokes]

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/04/uk ... power.html

Quote:

The Severn Valley Railway along with the University of Birmingham and Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions have teamed up to work on a ‘ground-breaking’ scheme.

The new project, called The Harrier HydroShunter Project, will see the conversion of a diesel locomotive to run on hydrogen power, a first for the UK.

Work has already started at Kidderminster Diesel Depot, where a number of volunteers are stripping donor vehicle, Class 08 No. 08635, to remove the diesel engine, generators and overhauling other components as well as to prepare the locomotive for the new Hydrogen power system.

The traction system is being designed by Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions and will be made of hydrogen cylinders, a hydrogen fuel cell stack and a hybrid battery.

More at the link.

The Class 08 is the universal switcher of the UK, with over 1,000 built (counting sub-classes), with over 100 surviving in service and about 70 in preservation--like the SW1, it seems "everybody's got one somewhere...."

So:
What are you gonna say when (probably not "if") the local college or the like comes around proposing a hydrogen/hybrid conversion of the diesel loco that's on your site just to occasionally move stuff around or as a work train/rescue loco?

Connie4800 · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2018 11:28 pm **Posts:** 90

I think'd the publicity would be worth it? At a certain point, if you have like 3 44 tonners on the property, converting a non-running one to an exotic drive system isn't too big a loss. Plus, you're seen as greener for doing it.

Severn Valley Ry. Converting Diesel Shunter to Hydrogen

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