A system, in a vehicle consist configured for dual fuel operation and comprising at least one fuel car operably connectable to at least one powered vehicle via a fuel distribution path, includes an energy management processing unit. The energy management processing unit is configured to obtain a first cost of a first fuel, obtain a second cost of a second fuel, and determine a proportional ratio of the first fuel and the second fuel for each of plural power settings available for use during performance of a mission along a route. The energy management processing unit is also configured to determine a trip plan specifying power settings for corresponding plural sections of the route to perform the mission using the first cost, the second cost, and the proportional ratio for the power settings to optimize a total combined cost of fuel used during performance of the mission.

A method and system include a vehicle control system including a multi-vehicle system. The system includes a controller. The controller determines a slack condition of a multi-vehicle system while the multi-vehicle system is parked. The controller determines the slack condition based on one or more sensor signals received from at least one sensor, the controller configured to control movement of the multi-vehicle system based on the slack condition that is determined while transitioning from being parked to forward motion.

A method and system include a vehicle control system including a multi-vehicle system. The system includes a controller. The controller determines a slack condition of a multi-vehicle system while the multi-vehicle system is parked. The controller determines the slack condition based on one or more sensor signals received from at least one sensor, the controller configured to control movement of the multi-vehicle system based on the slack condition that is determined while transitioning from being parked to forward motion.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a trainee operator control unit configured for wireless communication with a locomotive control unit for transmitting one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. A trainer is configured for wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit. The trainer is configured for monitoring the trainee operator control unit including the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit. The trainer is configured to transmit a brake application override command to the trainee operator control unit. And, the trainee operator control unit is configured to relay the brake application override command and/or a stop command to the locomotive control unit.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a trainee operator control unit configured for wireless communication with a locomotive control unit for transmitting one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. A trainer is configured for wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit. The trainer is configured for monitoring the trainee operator control unit including the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit. The trainer is configured to transmit a brake application override command to the trainee operator control unit. And, the trainee operator control unit is configured to relay the brake application override command and/or a stop command to the locomotive control unit.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

A train control system enables rapid, reliable, and verifiable association of a mobile component carried by an operator with at least one of a device, feature, or short range transceiver located on one or more locomotives of one or more consists in a train. The train control system may include a mobile component configured to be carried by an operator from one of the locomotives to another in the one or more consists. The at least one of a device, feature, or short range transceiver and the mobile component may be configured to communicate with each other wirelessly when brought within a threshold distance or less from each other. The mobile component may be configured to exchange a unique identifier with each locomotive automatically or upon an action of the operator when the operator brings the mobile component to within the threshold distance or less of each of the one or more locomotives. The train control system may be configured to limit communication of wireless control commands or diagnostic information from a lead locomotive such that the commands or diagnostic information are communicated only to others of the one or more locomotives that have been verifiably identified as being associated with the lead locomotive by exchange of the unique identifier with the mobile component carried by the operator.

A train control system enables rapid, reliable, and verifiable association of a mobile component carried by an operator with at least one of a device, feature, or short range transceiver located on one or more locomotives of one or more consists in a train. The train control system may include a mobile component configured to be carried by an operator from one of the locomotives to another in the one or more consists. The at least one of a device, feature, or short range transceiver and the mobile component may be configured to communicate with each other wirelessly when brought within a threshold distance or less from each other. The mobile component may be configured to exchange a unique identifier with each locomotive automatically or upon an action of the operator when the operator brings the mobile component to within the threshold distance or less of each of the one or more locomotives. The train control system may be configured to limit communication of wireless control commands or diagnostic information from a lead locomotive such that the commands or diagnostic information are communicated only to others of the one or more locomotives that have been verifiably identified as being associated with the lead locomotive by exchange of the unique identifier with the mobile component carried by the operator.

A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.