How EVERY TYPE Of Diesel Locomotive Works! (Part 1)

In this video, we discuss how a diesel-electric locomotive gets power from the engine to the wheels. We also discuss a very special feature diesel-electric locomotives have, that is only possible because of how the wheels are powered.

[mikel]

After all of these (77) years I finally understand how a diesel locomotive is powered. Thank you so much. Looking forward to watching your other videos.

[kens.]

There is Plenty to Learn in School growing up but you can Learn a Lot more on this Channel. Your Topics aren’t covered on other Railfan Channels. Thanks! 👍🙏

[BarredCoast]

Finally! Plain english explanation on how dynamic brakes work. Now I understand after all these years. Thanks!

[jamesedwards]

I love that you used a picture of a Utah Railway Alco. My grandpa used to be a mechanic for them.

[deanmeyer]

When I worked for NREC in the Silvis, Illinois shop, 99% of he locos had EMD engines.
We also had engines out of barges and ships.
The smallest I saw was 6 cylinders, while the largest I saw was 20 cylinders, in displacements from, I believe 575, 645, and 710 cubic inches per cylinder.
Most were 645 cubes and 16 cylinders.

[NipkowDisk]

LOL @ 2:01, Turboencabulator is listed there!!

[Jscribe]

SD45s had 20 cylinder engines, not 10. I'm guessing that was an "oops" on your part, only counting one bank of cylinders. Otherwise, good video.

[wagrtrains]

0:39 thats the CFLA VL class great to see an australian locomotive here

[thomaseischeid]

I've been a train person my whole life and I appreciate these videos. Also take a look at video on Animagraffs on how a diesel-electric locomotive works.

[yelyab]

Why doesn’t the dynamic braking get used for charging surplus batteries. Trains sometimes struggle on grades, a booster battery would help with short bursts of extra volts X amps = power. I’m a mechanical engineer so this maybe off by a few decimal places. I like the fact that the locomotives still use piston engine technology. 0:40 The reason is efficiency. Thermal dynamic efficiency is Temperature of in coming air / Temperature of exhaust gases. Most piston engines run 30% to 60%. 60% is rare but it’s possible. Gas turbines are usually less than 10%. Turbines advantage are high up to weight ratios. The exhaust on the experimental Chrysler gas turbine car could burn your pant legs if you walked behind the car and it would start fires when driven through fields of dry grass. If weight and space (package) are not restrictive the system that the locomotives use and one of the newer Honda hybrids is probably the most practical and reasonable way to propel over the road vehicles until it can be shown that a full no fossil fuel system, including generation and distribution, is invented that gives the range and $/mile is invented this mad rush to Tesla’s isn’t warranted. Owners shouldn’t feel comfortable that they are doing any favors to the environment. Not yet. Not for quite a while our infrastructure catches up to demand. All public domain systems are always one day from disaster, i doubt that the electrical grid can meet the new demands in the time frame regulators advertise, but that’s just me. Remember our bridge systems about 7 or 8 years ago when a relatively small bridge in Minnesota collapsed and killed a few people? The whole bridge system of permitting, safety inspections and reporting were reviewed and changed. I don’t remember how many millions were allocated to bridge upgrades. It was a lot. Every little town with a river or creek and a bridge got a new bridge. The old ones were only 90 years old.

[Sans-flpe]

I would have thought that most diesel-electrics have two ish generators so that the circuit between the motors and the rest of the train can remain isolated?

[buzzbolt]

Mate, i LOVED this video. If I ever left school again, I'd be a Freight Train Engineer.
Dunno quite how that would work coz I live in leafy Oxfordshire, England.

[paulmccallum]

I think if you check you'll find the SD45 had a V20 (12, 900ci) 3600hp EMD 645 2 stroke prime mover... not a V10

[elizetes]

Love trains! Great job - love your accent ! Cheers from Boston

[Hexen]

As someone who fixes locomotives for a living, this video is very simplistic, stripped down. But it's not wrong either. 👍

[thooterhooter]

Great video! Nice to see you put in a VL class engine. Love those weird looking diesels.

[thebops]

I'm assuming locomotive engineers have to fully understand how the locomotive works?

[kens.]

Diesel Electric is the Most Efficient Motor used for Transportation purposes. Just think how many Tractor Trailer trucks are taken off Roads with a Stack Train.🤔👍

[meomlett]

„Diesel locomotives, they power the world“ is as true of a statement than „The US rail network is the best in the world“💀

[tonyvanbergen]

The main generator is attached to the rear or flywheel end of the engine, not the front.