Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin
I have no idea how the system works but you can hear the prime mover (diesel engine) "shifting" as the locomotive accelerates and you can see these "shifts" reflected by in the exhaust plume.
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Those "shifts" are the transitions between series and parallel operation of the traction motors. There is a very short period during the transition when no power is delivered. That is what gives the impression of a gear shift as in a truck.
The "runs" or "notches" are governor limits that control the maximum amount of power available to the traction motors in a given configuration. They reduce the risk of overloading a motor by limiting the amount of power the engine can produce.