Couriosity aboutdiesel Locomotives Real ones

[rcaptain17]

I know this is a question about real locomotives, not Trainz one's. But I always wondered when you have two or more Locomotives at the start of a freight train. The driver is up in front you can see him. Now I know there are air hose's and cables that look after the electricals ( Lights and Brakes on the following Loco/ wagons. What about the Accelaration part? When the driver accelerates in the front loco does the back loco accelerate to at same rate and How?

 

[fran1]

Guessing at multiple unit connections, so hook 3 locos up connect them together and they act as one.
With helpers I suppose radio contact with the rear driver.

 

[jjanmarine3]

There are electrical cards and modules that are set to standard values in most diesels , in this case the Rate Control modules are set and will ensure smooth and uniform acceleration on all the locomotives in a consist providing they are compatible with each other. There is sometimes jerking and malfunctions and there are tests that are done when troubleshooting and during scheduled examinations to keep all those values in limits.It is all about reference voltages and the governors control the revolutions of all the diesel engines via these voltages which is basically fed from the throttle handle position which energises certain solonoids in the governors and certain relays in the low voltage compartments.

 

[DaveL]

Early diesels used pneumatic controls between engines. Today's use electronic controls for all functions.
Today you can even run the train from the second or third unit, if the first one crap out.

DaveL

 

[rcaptain17]

WOW! thanks guys

 

[nfitzsimmons]

If you want a real good feel for how this works try the Run8 simulator. You have to manually MU all of the units and configure them.

 

[napierdeltic]

I’m a Deltic driver over in the UK where these were for working express trains of around 300 – 500 tons with a speed of 100 MPH with one loco. They did sometimes doublehead but only for loco movements or failure assistance. Since these loco were preserved in the early 80’s most runs are now on preserved railways where double headers happens quite frequently. These machines were never multiple fitted so require a driver in each. With all drivers having route knowledge of where the gradients, line speeds and speed restrictions are its quite easy to know when to add the power on the second loco. Driving in the dark is the same down to route knowledge. If the leading loco puts on the brakes then these gauges are of course visible to the driver of the second loco so can eases off the power. Get to line speed again off with the power. The second loco doesn’t necessary need to be working at the same power output as the leading loco as the pulling power is transmitted via the coupling to the rest of the train. First loco say 100 % power second 50%. This is the same as having different types of locos with different horsepower’s on the same train.

Cheers
Stuart

ECML Project Leader

 

[JCitron]

You'll like this:

http://youtu.be/y7d7t_4dZko



John

 

[HiBaller]

Great video, John. I have it on my computer now.

Bill