The scheme suggested by previous discussion/web sites is to charge it in Barstow, run it over Tehachapi (recharging from dynamics going downhill, then up the Valley to Fresno or Stockton, I forget which. Remove from train there, recharge (?), the send it back. The need to install chargers in Barstow and possibly the west end - any news about how that's going? Without the charger at least at Barstow, it's pretty much ballast otherwise.

If it's fully charged coming down Tehachapi then will be sent back, I wonder why it doesn't come off in Bakersfield to be turned as a helper unit, instead of up the Valley. Makes sense, though, if it's not fully charged by the hill; the rest of the charge comes from lightly dragging on the flats, increasing the load slightly on the diesels. Hybrid cars do the same thing if the battery gets run down - the engine will run hard to charge it to a point where regeneration in normal braking can complete the job.