Locomotive Traction Explained.. How Diesel Locomotive Traction Motors Work

[@BeeLineEast]

A little off the subject but when i worked at the Bethlehem Steel Corp.in Steelton Pa. I was a locomotive crane helper. We used to dig our cars out of a draft on a spur track. My boss used to panic and told us to dig them out instead of waiting for the Steelton and Highspire R.R. to dig them out well needless to say we were pulling as high as 15 cars out to get to the ones we wanted. That was with an American Diesel Electric Locomotive Crane. Of course we smoked a few traction motors. That crane was not made to shift that kind of weight of course. Cool informative video.

[@donstor1]

Thank you AC, you gave us a lot of history and explained a lot in this short video. Bravo!

[@kens.3729]

Always Enjoy seeing that good looking Consolidated Freightways Trailer sitting at the Site where your video began. That was a Huge Company when I was growing up.

[@Trains21]

Thanks Ken. Did you notice the CF trailer @ 9:26??

[@proudfoamer2]

Your best video to date! Keep them coming.

[@Trains21]

Thanks for watching Foamer, I certainly intend to.

[@HNT63]

Professor AC Thanks!

[@keithfurlow5024]

Great video!! Very informative, trains are more complicated than most can imagine. Thanks for sharing!! Great info.

[@Trains21]

Thanks Keith.

[@josephkrizauskas1052]

And I thought getting the right tires for my pick up truck was complicated. ( LOL )

[@jimikrentkowski4073]

Dude seriously! I agree!!

[@CobraChamp]

Great video but man you packed a ton of information into it. I think I'd need to watch it twice to really make sure I catch everything you said.

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

I love union pacific rebuild and cp they look awesome thank u for making video on this buddy

[@Trains21]

Thanks forwatching Taylor

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

@@Trains21 your welcome pal

[@tristanstrains]

Great video 👍👍

[@Trains21]

Thanks

[@ldegmtrainspotter]

Great video

[@Trains21]

Thanks

[@jamessimmons1888]

Good video

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

How much fuel do the tanks take?

[@Supgangy]

5500 gallon tank i think

[@withamarshview1436]

I am interested in this topic, but don't think I learned much. The zippy delivery had me struggling to keep up. It was like watching a pingpong ball get knocked back and forth. Also, referring to locomotives by their code numbers isn't helpful unless you explain what those numbers mean. For example: -944CW, AC4400CW, SD40‐2, SD70ACE, F9, F7.

[@the_1drummajor]

Those code numbers refer to the model numbers of each locomotive (EMD SD40-2, EMD GP40-2, GE AC4400CW, GE D9-44CW, EMD F7, etc). He was going a bit quick, I agree. And inserting puns along the way seems to throw his lecture off at times. To me, this video feels more like a history lesson on why certain railroads use certain configurations of locomotives than an actual lesson on how traction motors work. One would need to fully understand how traction motors and locomotive performance works first before we start having a discussion on locomotive applications in the industry but he's already got a head start on that so... there's a possible assumption that viewers should already know their locomotive basics (including to understanding how traction motors work)

[@yardlimit8695]

I AGREE 100% ,,,,,,,,,,he knows quite a bit and a lot more than me, but his method of teaching leaves something to be desired......i wouldn't want him for a teacher in a class i had to get a passing grade in...........i do learn stuff from these videos but not as much as i'd like to......with all the work these videos take, you 'd think he would want it to be easier to understand and come away with the information he is presenting.......

[@darrylwmurphy738]

Equation have to be balanced to meet specifications and requirements.

[@darrylwmurphy738]

This is when a DPU is needed for extra power and climbing steep grades.

[@darrylwmurphy738]

Having some options that work

[@mikejones2525]

🤔😵‍💫🥴💥

[@richintalent]

AC do you think Amtrak is doomed? The last few issues of Trains magazine paint a pretty bleak picture of it.

[@Trains21]

I don't think that Amtrak is going anywhere, but that's just my own personal opinion. Amtrak has struggled since the day it began operations back in 1971. To this day, it survives thanks to the Northeast Corridor and the Acelas, and maybe one or two other smaller operations around Chicago and/or the west coast.

[@joshandkorinna]

@@Trains21 Isn't the Auto Train profitable? And also, Amtrak being federally funded means it isn't going anywhere. I would assume anyhow. I know their goal is to make a profit while operating but even if they don't, doesn't the US Federal Government view it as providing a service for the the country, meaning it'll continue to operate even at a loss. This is mostly speculation from me. AC, I'm sure you're far more informed than me.

[@Trains21]

@@joshandkorinna Yes, that's the other reason I don't see Amtrak going anywhere. Too much of the Midwest and other thinly populated regions that don't have robust public transportation systems depend on it.