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 track maintenance machine includes a machine frame being movable on a track, a plurality of working units, and a combustion engine to be connected by a clutch to a transfer case. Hydraulic pumps for supplying a plurality of hydraulic drives of a hydraulic system are connected to the transfer case. An electric motor is provided as an alternative drive of the transfer case for permanent energy supply of the working units and drives. The electric motor is coupled to an intermediate circuit to be supplied with electric energy by a vertically adjustable pantograph to be applied to a catenary of the track. A generator or an electric energy storage device is provided for alternative energy supply of the intermediate circuit. A method for operation of an energy supply system is also provided.

A track maintenance machine includes a machine frame being movable on a track, a plurality of working units, and a combustion engine to be connected by a clutch to a transfer case. Hydraulic pumps for supplying a plurality of hydraulic drives of a hydraulic system are connected to the transfer case. An electric motor is provided as an alternative drive of the transfer case for permanent energy supply of the working units and drives. The electric motor is coupled to an intermediate circuit to be supplied with electric energy by a vertically adjustable pantograph to be applied to a catenary of the track. A generator or an electric energy storage device is provided for alternative energy supply of the intermediate circuit. A method for operation of an energy supply system is also provided.

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.

A railway vehicle includes a car body having a shell frame surrounding an internal area suitable for accommodating passengers, and a power generator connected to an external side of the car body and including an outlet for discharging out a liquid produced during generation of electricity. A hydraulic system is in fluid communication with the outlet and receives at least part of the liquid produced during generation of electricity. The hydraulic system includes a first end portion connected to the outlet, a second end portion, spaced apart from the first end portion, for draining out from the hydraulic system the received liquid, and a third intermediate portion which is interconnected between the first and second end portions and is placed, at least partially, in the internal area of the car body, which is adapted to be heated before receiving passengers.

An electric vehicle which can travel using a power generator that generates electric power based on hydrogen without increasing the size of the hydrogen tank, is provided. An electric vehicle includes a first tank configured to store an organic hydride, a dehydrogenation reactor that has a first passage including a first catalyst for accelerating dehydrogenation reaction of the organic hydride supplied from the first tank and separates the organic hydride supplied to the first passage into hydrogen and an aromatic compound, a power generator configured to generate electric power using hydrogen supplied from the dehydrogenation reactor, a power storage configured to store electric power generated by the power generator, and a motor drivable on electric power from at least one of the power generator and the power storage to rotate a wheel.

A track maintenance machine includes a combustion engine mechanically connected by a drive shaft to an electric generator/motor unit. The electric generator/motor unit is connected by a mechanical drive unit to a hydraulic pump. A power accumulator is connected by an electrical supply line to the generator/motor unit and to drives which can be actuated electrically. It is thus possible to mainly electrically supply all of the drives.

A track maintenance machine includes a combustion engine mechanically connected by a drive shaft to an electric generator/motor unit. The electric generator/motor unit is connected by a mechanical drive unit to a hydraulic pump. A power accumulator is connected by an electrical supply line to the generator/motor unit and to drives which can be actuated electrically. It is thus possible to mainly electrically supply all of the drives.

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.