The 10 Most GENIUS Design Features On Locomotives!

In today's video we go over just a handful of features that keep the engineering marvels known as locomotives running smoothly. From glycol-lubricated air compressors, to guru valves, and everything in-between, we hope to shed some light on just what's going on under the hood of these behemoths.

[rallymodeller]

Honestly surprised you didn't cover radial steering trucks. The fact that locomotives can steer after a fashion is kind of mindblowing.

[SoCalOCRailfan]

Amazing video! One of the best train video topics to discuss, and I learned quite a lot of stuff I didn’t really know behind the scenes of these locomotives.

[Projeect]

Nice catch of LPG04(Sterling, IL to Rochelle, IL Local) @4:23

[Lost-In-Blank]

I love these kinds of technical details !!!

[carllinden]

I want to see more of these please! Whatever that's worth.

[IronWheelProductions]

Fun video. Always am excited to see new videos that you post weekly.

[bgmcc]

I spent my entire career in and around the railroad industry, and that’s the first I can ever recall hearing about floating / rotating piston heads.

[davidschick]

Love the IAIS footage. Thanks for posting.

[CentralIndianaRailfan]

Another thing about the main gen starting the locomotive is that early EMD’s would do the same thing, primarily in the prime days of EMD 567 prime movers. Something neat to mention would be the fact that the diesel engine does not have a traditional engine block in the fact that they have almost like hatches on he side (we call them handholds) that can be opened to view into the crankcase and into the scavenging air box, the block isn’t a solid block and has a whole system inside of it for airflow into the block. The blower hump on the side of EMD’s is being fed by the auxiliary generator which is battery charging and uses it’s electricity to excite the main gen, it also controls some smaller electronics. I can provide pictures of a lot of things on early EMD prime movers.

[keithposehn]

Very cool. Need some more of these videos!

[blabbergasted]

Fast & thorough for easy instruction. Thanks.

[kens.]

Your Videos is getting more Impressive and have Details that the majority of us never even knew existed. You obviously did your Homework in School. Thx! 👍🙏

[PowerTrain]

Summer/Winter doors on older EMD's can be found on the roof over one or more of the cooling fans, depending on the setup. These big bulbous housings are actually an addon for some road switchers such as GP38s but are most commonly found on E8/E9 locomotives, because to my knowledge they are the only locomotives to have them built into the body. Now as far as the modern stuff, I have no clue. They may not utilize such a thing anymore.

Those "idiot bars" on the Aux Cabs also ground out all the power in the circuits when raised so not only is no more power being sent to them, but it's also drained from them.

I did not know about BNSF's Dynamic Weight Management, that is very cool!

And about the compressors that use glycol an oil - Propylene Glycol is an active ingredient in antifreeze. Makes sense to me.

[jjc]

Most all older EMDs that I worked on had a start winding in the main generator. These were all DC traction motors and predate the use of alternators for the main gen.

[bodaciouslappi]

Awesome new vid, Keep up the great work!

[boxcarthehusky]

I don't know much about diesels but i know some for steam.
Fireboxes designed with GPCS (Gas Producer Combustion System) uses exhaust steam from the pistons and accessories to preheat and inject air into the firebox leading to more efficient combustion of solid fuels.

[chetumaire]

Speaking of a GP60B, There's at least 4 in Spokane, WA engine shops right now.

[onkelfabs]

The pneumatic assembly that enables standard breaking as well as direct breaking is also a great concept. As well as the partially releasable brake. The latter is not used on freight trains in the US though.

[jimhewettjr]

The 2 piece piston you talked about for the GE engines look like the 2 piece piston used in truck diesel engines.
In trucks the 2 piece design came about due to emissions regulations & rising cylinder pressures & temperatures.
Pistons used to be one solid machined piece of aluminum, but temps on the firing faces of the crown were nearing the melting point of the aluminum.
Engine pistons were then redesigned into 2 pieces with a steel crown to handle the increased stresses, and an aluminum piston skirt to save weight over a 1 piece completely steel piston. The aluminum is still more than adequate for the lower piston job so it was retained.
As locomotive diesels have been also facing stricter emissions requirements this could be an additional reason to use the 2 piece design if not the main reason.

[Cab_Productions]

What about the Armor Windows?
They were only use for FXE, FSRR and FTVM, And some MBTA and Amtrak Locomotives such as the MBTA F40PH and Amtrak E60