First Hydrogen Train

The first hydrogen train, "Little Workhorse" was created by Vehicle Projects from Golden, Colorado. This hydrail system was a working mining train demonstrated in Ontario, Canada in which it pulled underground ore cars.

Vehicle Projects created the first hydrogen train

In 2002, the 3.6 metric ton, 17 kw hydrogen locomotive was converted over from a battery operated mining car since the electric motor and electric system was already in place. Nuvera supplied the PEM fuel cell stack.

The hydrogen mining train had twice the power of the battery-powered train that it replaced and could be refuel with hydrogen in just 30 - 45 minutes. The battery-powered train took 8 hours to recharge.

Dr. Arnold Miller, the president of Vehicle Projects, is considered a pioneer in hydrogen train technology. Miller was a professor at the Colorado School of Mines where he conducted much research on niche markets for the hydrail industry.

Vehicle Projects is also working with the Japanese to put the first commuter hydrogen train on track in that country in the next couple of years. They are supplying the Railway Technical Research Institute out of Tokyo with a 150 kw fuel cell power plant.

Vehicle Projects is also converting a 109-metric-ton diesel-electric yard-switcher locomotive to run via fuel cell. This converted hydrogen train is for the U. S. Army who is interested in using the train for railway functions as well as power plant functionality in case of an electrical outage on a military base.