On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 18:31:17 GMT, Jim - NN7K wrote:

Ari- The power of a locomotive can be converted but, there are
certain problems, like going downhill, not only are brakes applied
to the cars, but the diesels go into "Dynamic Breaking", a complicated
way to say "Let the driver wheels run the motor (as a generator), and
them dump their output to banks of RESISTORS!! Provides great breaking,
but lousey voltage regulation! The radios on these units are powered
by (as stated,) 72 Volts, tho the radios also work on 12 volts (which
was the standard in Cabooses). The main point tho, remains that there
are considerable electronics (the new G.E. A.C.engines , from what
I have been told, are computer operated)!

Just saw one, yep, looks exactly that way.

and that anything that
interfers with other items causes considerable greif to the operation
of a railroad- even turning a relay upside down can cause a derailment!

Ah, I see what you mean, thanks again for the heads up. Are you then
suggesting that we create our own, clean power removed from the loco elec
grid?
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