In light of the experience acquired with the unique NAC-12 locomotives on the GNRY Cascade Tunnel line, the International Harvester Company, the Babcock and Wilcox Company, and the California Pacific Railway and Navigation Company, under the capable guidance of Mr. Bosco Hearn, Master Mechanic, have developed the "Next Generation" of Nuclear Powered locomotives as well as a pilot project, the Nuclear Powered Executive Hi-railer.  During the developement of the reactor system for these locomotives, it was discovered that the prototype reactor was small enough to be fitted into a road vehicle, hence this vehicle.   Railroad officials also feel that if the crews who are to operate the locomotives see them riding around in this vehicle, they would be less hesitant to be around the nuclear locomotives.
 

      Since the advent of the NAC-12m's, the famous "Nuclear Powered Cab Fowards" advances in electric traction control technology have made it feasable to equip a new series of  locomotives with an advanced form of electical drive system.  Since Mr. Hearn was astute enough to consult with a retired US Air Force Colonel, who has an advanced degree in Nuclear Engineering, as well as a couple of retired Chief Petty Officers from Uncle Sam's Canoe Club with nuke boat experience,  it was learned that a closed cycle water/steam system, coupled with the USN reactor design that works with a "negative temperature coefficient" is just the ticket.  The use of this type of system ensures that there no possibility of a "melt-down" like the one that caused the unfortunate incident involving the NAC-12 in the Cascade Tunnel.  This technology has been proven over many years in US Navy submarines, which have enjoyed an excellent safety record and  is felt to be "the way to go" with the next generation nuclear locomotive. These reactors are so well shielded so as to expose a person standing beside them to less radiation than they would recieve standing outside in the sun.  These features alone will eliminate many of the problems that plagued the NAC-12's.  These problems included such phenomena as fish with five eyes and three tails and two headed  raccoons along the right-of-way, not to mention reducing the possibilty of another unfortunate "pile up" like the one in Washington that ended up as attributable to a radiation mutated skunk combined with a certain degree of human error.  Automated power control systems will reduce or eliminate the possibility of  human error which was considered to be the cause of the unfortunate "meltdown" incident involving an NAC-12, which resulted in a "jog" in the formerly straight Cascade Tunnel.
    The new IHC/Babcock & Wilcox/Cal-P locomotives have some amazing technical specifications.  Modern traction motors are capable of absorbing and applying to the rail well over 2000 horsepower each.  As the new locomotive carries twelve traction motors, which are specially insulated for a somewhat higher than normal operating voltage, the power potential for these units is well over 25,000 horespower and this is with the reactor operating at "fast idle". The turbine- alternator system powered by the "submarine style" reactor generates electric power at 480 volts, 60 Hz three phase, which is a standard industrial power configuration.  A side benefit of the 480 volt 3 phase power system is that these units will be pre-configured to supply Head End Power to Amtrak compatible passenger equipment, by tapping off of the output of the main alternator.  The 480 volt power is then transformed up to 2220 volts, fed to the rectifier bank and then the twelve General Electric supplied traction inverters.  This provides a very sophisticated traction control system that will enable the locomotive to apply the maximum amount of power to the rail, achieving a very high tractive effort.  As the total weight of the two units which comprise the locomotive is over 250 tons each, these engines have the potential to be real "Knuckle Busters", but they will be well within the acceptable track loading limits of most railroads.
In addition, there is an ALCO 18 cylinder, 4000 HP 251 model Diesel engine in the lead unit, which is capable of powering the locomotive (at much reduced power) as well as providing power for starting the reactor on the very rare occasions when it might be completely shut down.  As the nuclear portion of the power system is almost silent in operation, the ALCO engine will also serve to make these units sound like a "real locomotive" when desired.
    These units will prove quite capable of doing the work that the railroad will assign to them in a reliable manner, however, crew training issues and craft union inspired questions as to the well-being of crews assigned to these locomotives have created unforseen problems. The operating unions have expressed concern about long term health risks, in light of rumors about the risks of radiation exposure that have been circulating recently.  The railroad has replied "Since your health insurance is paid up, what the hell are you worried about?"  There has also been a problem in moving these locomotives through the cities of Berkeley and Davis on the Cal-P main line due to the excessive amount of anti-nuclear protesters lying on the track. Of course, a lot of this can be ascribed to media hysteria and dis-information generated by the oil companies in concert with what passes for a government in this country. The attitude of the railroad's Operating Department Chief  T. Maxwell Crabnut is, of course, "Hey, we've been here sincy 1868, so I guess if you lie down on the track and get run over, you are trespassing and that makes you "kitty food".  As it was discovered that the protesters were tracking nuclear powered train movements by monitoring the Cal-P radio channels (AAR 1010 or 6060) the railroad has determined that in order to defend it's property against this sort of activity, all of their locomotives and base stations will henceforth be equipped with CRM-114 discriminators.
    The Cal-P Public Relations Department has suggested a method to deal with the anti-nuclear protesters in a more peaceful manner that won't involve violence imposed by company police wielding exotic weapons.  While it's not necessary to spend the "Big Bucks" that Microsoft spent on the Rolling Stones to promote their product (Windows 95), free concerts featuring well known rock bands who are known to be "hungry" enough to do this,  at certain locations along the line, coupled with an "adequate" supply of high quality "wacky tobaccy" should de-fuse about 99% of the protest activity.  Mr.Hedley LaMarr, Public Relations Director, has assured the company that this can be done and the railroad has allocated a budget of 1.5 million dollars to the PR department to acomplish this.  The railroad is going to distribute only "Humboldt Gold" since the people of Northwestern California were so amicable during the pilot phases of the application of nuclear power for railroad transportation purposes.  Mr. LaMarr, said "We want to contibute back into the Northwestern California economy in a positive, foward thinking and meaningful way".  Former California Attorney General Dan Lungren was not available for comment.
    The railroad feels that the crew training issue can be solved by hiring former nuclear submarine sailors who have experience operating mobile nuclear reactors, but the unions feel that along with "lack of seniority", these "swabbies" may know their way around a submarine, but don't know "squat" about railroading.  There was also an issue raised concerning the "attitude" of some of the former Navy personnel who had previously attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.  Mixing these individuals with seasoned railroaders was like mixing "oil and water".  Negotiations between the railroad, the unions and the "anti-nuke" protesters continue...
    As events develop, more information will be made available here.

                                                                                            P.J. “PAP’  Schmierer, Stockton, CA
                                                                                            J.R. "Easy" Ley, Woodland, CA