A locomotive suited for use as a switcher for road and/or yard work is provided. The switcher comprises a mother unit having an engine for converting fuel into electricity. The mother unit includes two trucks supporting wheels on a plurality of axles, and a plurality of traction motors to provide tractive force to the mother unit's axles. The switcher also includes a slug unit operatively coupled to the mother unit in a manner to transmit electric power, signals and hauling force. The slug unit can include at least one truck, which can be removed from a retired locomotive and at least one traction motor electrically coupled to the mother unit and operatively coupled to the axle(s). Sufficient ballast can be added to equalize weight per axle. The switcher combines the power of a locomotive with more axles with the maneuverability of a locomotive with fewer axles.

A locomotive propulsion system includes an engine assisting apparatus and an engine control unit that monitors an output parameter of a locomotive engine. The control unit determines whether the engine output decreases sufficiently low to at least partially de-fuel the engine and to activate an assisting apparatus. This assisting apparatus rotates a shaft of the engine with or without the engine also rotating the shaft. Rotation of the shaft by the assisting apparatus can be used to power traction motors or other loads of the locomotive while reducing fuel consumption and/or emission generation by the engine.

A locomotive propulsion system includes an engine assisting apparatus and an engine control unit that monitors an output parameter of a locomotive engine. The control unit determines whether the engine output decreases sufficiently low to at least partially de-fuel the engine and to activate an assisting apparatus. This assisting apparatus rotates a shaft of the engine with or without the engine also rotating the shaft. Rotation of the shaft by the assisting apparatus can be used to power traction motors or other loads of the locomotive while reducing fuel consumption and/or emission generation by the engine.

In one embodiment, a probe includes a first facet associated with a first pressure port operable to measure a first wind pressure, a second facet associated with a second pressure port operable to measure a second wind pressure, and a third facet associated with a third pressure port operable to measure a third wind pressure. The second facet is adjacent to the first facet and the third facet adjacent to the second facet. The probe further includes a fourth facet adjacent to the third facet and a fifth facet adjacent to the fourth facet and to the first facet. The first facet, the second facet, the third facet, the fourth facet, and the fifth facet are located between a first end portion and a second end portion of the probe.

In one embodiment, a system includes a vehicle, one or more probes coupled to the vehicle, and a controller. The vehicle is operable to traverse a distance. The one or more probes are operable to measure wind pressure and generate one or more wind pressure measurements. The controller is operable to receive the one or more wind pressure measurements from the one or more probes, determine a wind angle relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements, and determine a wind speed relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements and the wind angle.

Various methods and systems are provided for a radial turbocharger. In one example, the turbocharger comprises a turbine case housing a turbine wheel and a compressor case housing a compressor wheel, the turbine case including a vaneless turbine nozzle integrated into the turbine case, a bearing case surrounding a shaft connecting the turbine wheel to the compressor wheel and arranged between the turbine case and compressor case, a plurality of long bolts arranged around a circumference of the turbine case, and a plurality of slots arranged around a circumference of the turbine case, a slot length of each slot extending in a radial direction and adapted to receive a dowel pin having a diameter smaller than the slot length, where each dowel pin, via a corresponding slot, couples the bearing case to the turbine case.

Various methods and systems are provided for a radial turbocharger. In one example, the turbocharger comprises a turbine case housing a turbine wheel and a compressor case housing a compressor wheel, the turbine case including a vaneless turbine nozzle integrated into the turbine case, a bearing case surrounding a shaft connecting the turbine wheel to the compressor wheel and arranged between the turbine case and compressor case, a plurality of long bolts arranged around a circumference of the turbine case, and a plurality of slots arranged around a circumference of the turbine case, a slot length of each slot extending in a radial direction and adapted to receive a dowel pin having a diameter smaller than the slot length, where each dowel pin, via a corresponding slot, couples the bearing case to the turbine case.

Various systems are provided for an electric turbocharger. As one example, an electric turbocharger includes a turbine casing housing a turbine wheel and a compressor casing housing a compressor wheel, a bearing casing surrounding a shaft connecting the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel, the bearing casing split into a turbine bearing casing, compressor bearing casing, and a stator casing, the stator casing positioned between the turbine bearing casing and compressor bearing casing and housing an electric motor mounted on and around the shaft, and a plurality of bolts, each bolt of the plurality of bolts extending parallel to the shaft and from an outer face of the compressor bearing casing, through the stator casing and turbine bearing casing, and into the turbine casing.

Various systems are provided for an electric turbocharger. As one example, an electric turbocharger includes a turbine casing housing a turbine wheel and a compressor casing housing a compressor wheel, a bearing casing surrounding a shaft connecting the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel, the bearing casing split into a turbine bearing casing, compressor bearing casing, and a stator casing, the stator casing positioned between the turbine bearing casing and compressor bearing casing and housing an electric motor mounted on and around the shaft, and a plurality of bolts, each bolt of the plurality of bolts extending parallel to the shaft and from an outer face of the compressor bearing casing, through the stator casing and turbine bearing casing, and into the turbine casing.

Methods and systems are provided for a starter motor system for cranking an engine. In one example, a starter motor system includes, a battery, two electric motors arranged in series, two main contactors, two auxiliary contactors, and two solenoid contactors. Each of the two electric starter motors may be simultaneously energized to crank the engine in tandem after the pinion gears of both the electric motors are coupled to the ring gear of the engine.