Brookville Equipment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad locomotives, streetcars |
| Predecessor | Brookville Locomotive Company |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | L. A. Leathers |
| Headquarters | Brookville , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Railroad locomotives, streetcars, locomotive refurbishment |
| Website | brookvillecorp |
Brookville Equipment Corporation, based in Brookville, Pennsylvania, United States, specializes in producing railroad locomotives mainly designed for industrial use and light switching duties, as well as constructing and refurbishing streetcars. Established in 1918 by L. A. Leathers, the company was initially named Brookville Locomotive Company.
History
The company began by fitting flanged railroad wheels onto Ford trucks and soon after World War I advanced to creating its own gasoline-powered locomotives. It was a pioneer in introducing planetary drive axles, which replaced the conventional chain drives, thereby improving the robustness and efficiency of its locomotives.
Products
In 2007, Brookville launched its CoGeneration locomotives capable of delivering up to via three low-emission EPA Tier-3 diesel engines. This "Power on Demand" system activates engines only when necessary, leading to lower fuel use and reduced emissions. The locomotives also incorporate advanced IGBT electronic switches that enhance traction control and rail adhesion.
The firm's clientele spans mining, tunneling, industrial sectors, and switching operations. In 2008, Brookville entered the road switcher market with the BL20-GH model developed for Metro-North Railroad.
Brookville's Railwalker devices improve safety by allowing locomotives to be re-railed without exposing operators to hazards.
Streetcars
Since 2002, Brookville has maintained a streetcar division dedicated to restoration and remanufacture, alongside producing trucks for vintage-style streetcars for customers such as the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Key undertakings include rebuilding 18 PCC streetcars for Philadelphia's SEPTA Route 15 (known as PCC IIs), refurbishing PCC cars for San Francisco's F Market & Wharves line, and crafting replicas of historic Perley Thomas streetcars for New Orleans.
In 2011, the company revealed plans for a low-floor articulated tram called the "Liberty" model, which can operate off-wire for limited distances using battery power. This innovation led to a $9.4 million contract from Dallas Area Rapid Transit in early 2013 for two Liberty streetcars deployed on the Dallas Streetcar line inaugurated in April 2015. Additionally, Brookville manufactured replica "Red Car Trolley" streetcars for Disney California Adventure in 2012.
2008
Metro-North Railroad placed an order for 10 BL20GH units—numbers 110-115 painted in Metro-North livery and 125-130 finished in the New Haven scheme for the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The contract also included two multi-engine CoGeneration locomotives for MTA Capital and four (115-ton) BL20G locomotives intended for the Staten Island Railway. Following a 2020 refurbishment, ConnDOT units were repainted into the CTrail color scheme.
2010
In collaboration with local and federal agencies, Brookville developed a low-emission genset locomotive for the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, which entered service in July 2010. A second genset locomotive was commissioned in December 2010 along with one for the Ohio Central Railroad System, all equipped with Brookville engine kits.
2011
On February 25, 2011, Miami's commuter rail system, Tri-Rail, placed an order with Brookville for twelve BL36PH passenger locomotives, with the contract valued at $109 million.
2013
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) entered into an agreement with Brookville to supply two Liberty streetcars for Dallas' streetcar line, including options to acquire two additional units, with a total potential contract amount of $9.4 million.
2015
March saw the delivery of DART’s initial streetcar. By April, the Central California Traction Company received two BL12CG genset locomotives, each producing 1200 horsepower. In June, Detroit's M-1 Rail Line placed an order for six streetcars priced at $32 million; these vehicles are equipped with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that allow them to operate off-wire for more than 60% of their route. Later in November, Milwaukee awarded Brookville an $18.6 million contract for four streetcars, with deliveries scheduled to commence in late 2017.
2016
The Oklahoma City Streetcar project contracted Brookville in March for five streetcars, with an option to purchase a sixth, totaling $24.9 million.
2017
Valley Metro Rail ordered six Liberty Streetcars capable of off-wire operation in June for the Tempe Streetcar project, at a cost of $33 million. Additionally, El Paso initiated a restoration project for six PCC streetcars intended for its streetcar network.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Brookville Equipment Corporation
- Locomotive manufacturers of the United States
- Railway service companies of the United States
- Tram manufacturers
- American companies established in 1918
- Manufacturing companies established in 1918
- Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States
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- Companies of the United States by year of establishment