Anybody want to know how diesels Really work?? I’m sure some of you have seen this but for the ones that Haven’t…
in a nutshell, its really quite simple…the diesel engine turns an air compressor for the braking system and then turns an electric generator…the electric generator produces electric current that is sent to the drive motor’s on the locomotive’s trucks that make the train go…there is also a dynamic brake on units so equipped that act like a brake…it works by curtailing power to the trucks thru a set of resistors… the engineer sets the dynamic brake at a setting he chooses for his train…it usually kicks in when a train goes downhill…chuck
CW explained it about right, but on the dynamic brakes, it turns the DC motors into generators that dissipate the power they make through a fan cooled coil in the top of the loco.
Greg
I’ve always thought that calling a locomotive a “Diesel” is a bit confusing. Technically there is a big diesel engine in it, but it does not operate like a big truck does. All diesel locomotives are actually electrically driven, but the electricity is generated by the diesel engine.
Here’s a good article on it: http://travel.howstuffworks.com/diesel-locomotive.htm
Indeed, they’re really just electric locomotives–but instead of receiving power from a distant powerplant via overhead or third rail, they carry their own power generator wherever they go!
Technically, they are called Diesel-Electric Locomotives. Some european lines use Diesel-Hydralic Locomotives (which as everyone knows, SP destroyed in short order). And a few light industrial locomotives are direct diesel drive.
Nick
Can you imagine the ungodly amount of diesel fuel they would use if they were direct drive diesels?
All good discussion to be sure, But I wasn’t Asking how they work… I just thought some of you people might find the Operators Manuals, Service manuals, etc Interesting.
If you want some detailed information, from a real locomotive engineer, check here: http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=108&DaysPrune=1000&submit=Go
–Randy
I’ve been ut of the loop for a while. Is there some place I can get information on SP’s attempt at using diesel hydraulics? It sounds entertaining, in a morbid sort of way.
RE: SP’s diesel hydraulics
Alco model DH643, 4300 HP, built 9/64, 3 built, scrapped 1973. If you have the book “Diesel Locomotives: the First 50 Years”, look an page 271.
Krauss-Maffei, A. G., unknown model designation, 3450 HP (rated 4000, but in european measurement), built 1961-63, 21 built (imported), originally sold 3 to D&RGW, and 3 to SP. SP later bought D&RGW’s units along with 15 more. Scrapped in 1970. Same book, page 384.
There were only about a dozen or so other D/H units built, primarily switchers, and most didn’t last long and were not very popular (in North America, of course).
And the light industrial locos weren’t really “direct drive”, but had either torque converters, or Allison automatic transmissions.
And I remember seeing somewhere (maybe in MR) some industry somewhere converted an 0-6-0 steamer into a gas-burner with something like a 366 GM truck engine along with it’s 5 speed transmission and 2 speed rear axle. They mounted the axle over the middle driver, and had a chain drive setup from the ends of the axle to the middle driver. I don’t know how the clutch and shifter was set up, but I’m told the thing had a top speed of like 15 MPH. Photos of resulting drive setup was weird to say the least. I think it could pull like 3 loaded cars or maybe 6-7 empties.
Brad
I thought my second post might have covered that… I guess if I had posted a link to an auction for a cheese sandwich or another dumb poll asking how many people think polls are dumb, this thread would be 10 pages long by now…
Thanks for helping clarify it… Glad you enjoyed the site, Jerry M1 (though it isn’t mine)…
that site was handy. I printed out 4 different manuals. CNW SD60, SD50, SD40-2, GP38-2. Thanks Jeff
Anybody interested in Espees llittle “experiment” may like this…