“though they were powered by diesel-electric generators”
They still are, correct? I remember reading how the diesel electric locomotives were a huge improvement over the steam locomotives.
The article mentions batteries and fuel cells. Those are two entirely different sources of electric power.
Maybe the “tender” concept needs to return. Remember the tender was hauled behind the steam locomotive and contained the coal supply. Now we can have an electric locomotive with various tenders: batteries, diesel powered generators, fuel cells.
Imagine the even bigger fires after a derailment!