Locomotives use the drive motors to motorize the generator  for downhill
braking - this is called "plugging.". If it weren't for this need,  I'm not sure
they'd use the inefficient Diesel-Electric drive at all as the  train's other
electrical consumption is quite small by comparison.

Regards,

John
"Seahorse"

am sure there would be a size minimum for this to  work.

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
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As I recall, Diesel-electric propulsion is used due to
the tremendous amount of starting torque of the
electric propulsion motors that drive the wheels ,
especially at low rpm.  The regenerative braking
is a bonus that saves the brake shoes on the
locomotive and probably on the cars of the
train behind the loco.

Diesel-electric is used to  SAVE  on the cost of
installation and maintenance of the catenary
wiring for full electric propulsion.

• D C "Mac" Macdonald  *
• m/v Another Adventure *
• '95 Carver 355 ACMY  *
• Grand Lake - OKlahoma *
• USPS & AGLCA (#217)  *

----Original Message Follows----
From: Truelove39@aol.com
Reply-To: Power Catamaran List power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com
To: jim@rmtmail.com
CC: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com
Subject: [PCW] A few things
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:44:31 EDT

Locomotives use the drive motors to motorize the generator  for downhill
braking - this is called "plugging.". If it weren't for this need,  I'm not
sure
they'd use the inefficient Diesel-Electric drive at all as the  train's
other
electrical consumption is quite small by comparison.

Regards,

John
"Seahorse"

am sure there would be a size minimum for this to  work.

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL
at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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