Watco Texas USA SW1200 and SW1500 1950’s Locomotive: Diesel to Battery Electric Conversion

Medha completed the conversion of the 1950’s locomotives SW1200 and SW1500 in July 2023 at Greens Port, Watco’s multimodal terminal and port facility in Houston, Texas. After adjustments in subsequent weeks, they were commissioned into full service in September.

Medha’s journey towards a decarbonization solution for the rollingstock space has been a natural progression, building upon our established, advanced suite of electric propulsion systems covering the full range from shunting to heavy-haul locomotives. With proven expertise in both electric and diesel-electric locomotives, the shift to battery-electric technology required only a change in power source — the battery — while all other core components remained a constant.

Medha’s purpose-built ZEBHRA Converters for zero-emission rolling stock, featuring inverters and Traction Buck Boost Converters, enable seamless integration of batteries as the new power source. Battery chemistry is carefully selected to balance energy and power density, tailored to specific operational demands: freight locomotives prioritize energy density for extended range, while passenger locomotives require power density for frequent start-stop operations.