What is a Diesel-Electric Locomotive?
Transportation, Mechanical, Engineering
3 main departments within the railroad that specialist work.
Class 1, Regional & Local Railroads
3 types of railroads in use today.
CW44AC
A GE model-three axle truck; wide bodied cab, 4400 horsepower; alternating current traction motor.
Interchange
A car is moved to where the tracks of another railroad meet. The nations largest interchange is in Chicago.
Horsepower, Tractive Effort & Adhesion Factor
A locomotives ability to pull a freight train.
General Merchandise Trains
A mixed train which consist of different types of cars going to different locations.
Railroad
A permanent road having a line of rails fixed to ties and laid on a roadbed and providing a track for cars and equipment drawn by locomotives or propelled by self-contained motors.
Association of American Railroads
A railroad industry association whose responsibilities include safety standards, maintenance, operation, service and repair standards and car service rules.
Infrastructure
A strong foundation built to allow a train to run safely.
Global Positioning System
A transmitter that will send a signal that details the locomotives location, speed, fuel consumption, and direction.
SD90MAC
An EMD model -Special duty; 90 series; wide body; alternating current traction motors.
Grade Crossings
As a train approaches this intersection, dispatch will cause wayside lights to go on and bells will automatically start working.
Electromotive Division of General Motors
Builds locomotive 2 stroke engines.
General Electric
Builds locomotive 4 stroke engines.
EMD, General Electric, Helms
Companies which lease locomotives
Trailer on Flatcar (TOFC)
Consist of 2 items per flat car.
Container on Flatcar (COFC)
Consist of 4 items per flat car, which are "double-stacked."
Bungalow
Contains track circuits controlled by batteries and relays.
Diagnostic Panel
Located on the front of the electrical cabinet. Enables monitoring or testing of system functions.
CSX, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern
Name 5 class one railroads.
Thermite Welding
Powdered metal poured into a container "a crucible" and heated until it melts. A mold around a rail joint.
Diesel Electric Locomotive
Produces 3,000 to 6,000 horsepower, is turbocharged and is the most high tech land transportation vehicles in use today.
Auxiliary Generator
Provides excitation current to the companion alternator. Also supplies power to the cab heating, locomotive lighting, and battery charging circuits.
Car Control Valve
Senses a decrease in brake pipe pressure and moves a valve internally, resulting in auxiliary air pressure to be applied to the brake cylinder.
Wayside Track Signals
Signals that tell the operator when to proceed, slow down or stop.
Traction Motors
Supports all of the locomotive weight, and provides flexibility to turn the locomotive and absorb many shocks.
Automatic Equipment Identification
Tags which store information about the car, owner, number, type of car, etc.
Adhesion Factor
The ability of a locomotives steel wheels to grip steel railroad tracks and roll without slipping.
Load Limit
The maximum weight, in pounds, that a car can carry.
Safety First
The most important phrase in railroading
Locomotive Engineer
The person in charge of operating the locomotives and train.
Electric Cabinet
This gang operated switchgear is located in the high voltage control cabinet.
Dispatch
This person aligns switches, controls wayside signals and communicates with the engineer.
Conductor
This person is responsible for the movement of the whole train.
Generators, Traction Motors, Control System
Three components which form the electrical transmission.
Track
Two rails spiked to the ties and the ballast firmly packed around the ties to form a rigid track structure.
Intermodal & Doublestack
What are 2 types of "freight" trains?
Freight & Passenger Train
What are 2 types of trains?
