or maybe a locomotive, which is less sensitive to weight and cargo capacity?
For locomotives ? I'd imagine the simplest solution would be to have "battery wagon" ; get on the station, replace the battery wagon, and be on your merry way while it is recharging in the station waiting for next train to pick it up, at least for the long haul stuff. But capacity density still matters, if flow batteries are being close and cheaper then it makes sense, but if you need to pay slighty more per KWh but get 2x the capactity... thats 2x the range and less maintenance.
Or, you know, just electric rail. It already works fine in many places. I wonder if making some hybrid solution with electric rails also being covered by solar panels (basically so same maintenance crew can manage both) would make sense
So it all depends to what level of density it gets. If it is same capacity per kg but lower power there are still many places it can be used, if it is much lower it stops being sensible for moving stuff. And the price would need to be significantly below the normal batteries for anyone to even bother.
Trains maybe, but surely the money is better spent on overhead wire? Even if tunnels/bridges/etc. can't take it you're better with just the power-buffer battery and no flow battery.
And rail is far cheaper to operate once built per unit capacity than trucking. If you don't inflate it with endless feasibility studies and contracts that get paid regardless of output the initial building costs are about double a 4 lane highway, but it carries a lot more and maintenance is lower.
It also have lower energy density so you pumping 600l of new electrolyte on the station might still give you only 200km of range