Locos for emergency power, Why not diesel electrics during the blackout? Options

[Sloan]

Back in May of 2001, Montana Rail link fired up six locomotives to sell electricitiy to on-line industries who at that time were facing huge rate increases from a local utility. According to an item in the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers newsletter, a 3,000 HP diesel can generate 1.6 megawatts, enough to serve 1,000 homes. If that is so, how come the emergency management folks in New York and elsewhere pick up on this resource? Maybe they did, but I didn't see any mention in the media.

By the way, railroads with their huge infrastructure (bridges and alternative rights of way) offer a redundancy that enable orderly evacuations in emergencies or speedy delivery of need supplies when roads are flooded or blocked.

Sloan