[sdiy] OT: Generator?

[John L Marshall]

The generator-motor approach solves the gear shifting problem. Kenworth
trucks have up to 16 forward gears to start rolling and then get up to
speed. Imagine the gear box for three locomotives that are pulling a hundred
cars!


> throughout this thread, I've been wondering why locomotive engines in
> america don't do this... (regenerative braking).  AFAIK, even though
> trains are diesel in america, the diesel powers generators and the
> locomotion is created by big electric motors (don't ask me why!), so
> it makes sense to me to use regenerative braking, unless of course,
> there aren't any batteries, just the generators to the motors (through
> a controller or two no doubt)
> -ben