A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform 515. The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle (22) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a rail vehicle carriage (24) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a method of operating a rail vehicle having an energy storage system (15); and a method of assembling a train composition. The rail vehicle (22) includes a rail vehicle carriage (24), traction equipment (6), a high-voltage conductor (5), a current collector (1), and an energy storage system (15) having an energy storage device. The traction equipment (6) comprises at least one traction power converter (9) and at least one traction motor (11). The high-voltage conductor (5) electrically connects the traction equipment (6) to the current collector (1). The energy storage device may be a battery (20).

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle (22) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a rail vehicle carriage (24) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a method of operating a rail vehicle having an energy storage system (15); and a method of assembling a train composition. The rail vehicle (22) includes a rail vehicle carriage (24), traction equipment (6), a high-voltage conductor (5), a current collector (1), and an energy storage system (15) having an energy storage device. The traction equipment (6) comprises at least one traction power converter (9) and at least one traction motor (11). The high-voltage conductor (5) electrically connects the traction equipment (6) to the current collector (1). The energy storage device may be a battery (20).

A locomotive is provided including a main deck extending along a longitudinal axis and supporting one or more prime movers configured to be powered at least partially by gaseous fuel; a first truck and a second truck axially spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the first and second trucks supporting the main deck; and at least one fuel compartment integrated into the main deck along the longitudinal axis, the at least one fuel compartment comprising one or more supports configured to support loads from the main deck, and one or more storage wells adapted to store one or more storage tanks for storing the gaseous fuel.

A locomotive is provided including a main deck extending along a longitudinal axis and supporting one or more prime movers configured to be powered at least partially by gaseous fuel; a first truck and a second truck axially spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the first and second trucks supporting the main deck; and at least one fuel compartment integrated into the main deck along the longitudinal axis, the at least one fuel compartment comprising one or more supports configured to support loads from the main deck, and one or more storage wells adapted to store one or more storage tanks for storing the gaseous fuel.

A rail vehicle is configured for extracting electrical energy from a power supply external to the vehicle and has at least one electrical energy storage unit. In a first operating mode, the rail vehicle travels by means of energy extracted from the power supply and without energy from the energy storage unit. In a second operating mode, the rail vehicle travels, at least in part, by means of energy from the energy storage unit and/or at reduced traction power in comparison to the first operating mode. The rail vehicle includes a controller set up for activating the first or the second operating mode, as a function of an upper consumption limit, which defines the permissible upper limit of the power that can be extracted from the power supply. The upper consumption limit is established in a variable manner so as to prevent power peaks in the power supply.

A rail vehicle is configured for extracting electrical energy from a power supply external to the vehicle and has at least one electrical energy storage unit. In a first operating mode, the rail vehicle travels by means of energy extracted from the power supply and without energy from the energy storage unit. In a second operating mode, the rail vehicle travels, at least in part, by means of energy from the energy storage unit and/or at reduced traction power in comparison to the first operating mode. The rail vehicle includes a controller set up for activating the first or the second operating mode, as a function of an upper consumption limit, which defines the permissible upper limit of the power that can be extracted from the power supply. The upper consumption limit is established in a variable manner so as to prevent power peaks in the power supply.

An assembly includes a locomotive, equipped with a roof line, electrically connected to a pantograph, a control system and a sensing circuit. The control system orders, depending on the voltage on the roof line detected by the sensing circuit, the open or closed state of a switch between the roof line and a power supply circuit of the motors of the locomotive. The assembly also includes a tender, coupled to the locomotive and carrying batteries suitable for delivering a current for supplying the motors. The tender is electrically connected to the locomotive in such a way that a first terminal of the batteries is connected to the roof line and a second terminal of the batteries is connected to a point of the locomotive set to a reference potential.

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by an auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power input sources from a plurality of power input sources. The method also includes determining, by the auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power consuming devices from a plurality of power consuming devices. The method further includes managing, by the auxiliary power controller, transfer of auxiliary power from the first selection of the one or more power input sources to the first selection of the one or more power consuming devices.

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by an auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power input sources from a plurality of power input sources. The method also includes determining, by the auxiliary power controller, a first selection of one or more power consuming devices from a plurality of power consuming devices. The method further includes managing, by the auxiliary power controller, transfer of auxiliary power from the first selection of the one or more power input sources to the first selection of the one or more power consuming devices.