Locomotive Repower

1 . A method for repowering a locomotive, the locomotive, prior to being repowered, including a first traction motor, a 4-stroke engine, and a first engine controller configured to regulate operation of the 4-stroke engine, the method comprising:

replacing the 4-stroke engine with a second engine installed in the locomotive, the second engine a 2-stroke engine;

replacing the first engine controller with a second engine controller, the second engine controller configured to regulate operation of the second engine, the second engine controller and the second engine, in combination, adapted to meet at least Tier 0 emission standards for the locomotive when repowered,

wherein the first traction motor is configured to utilize power that results from operation of the second engine.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 4-stroke engine is either a twelve cylinder or a sixteen cylinder engine.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second engine controller and the second engine, in combination, are further adapted to meet at least Tier 1 emission standards for the locomotive when repowered.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further includes a first generator and a first locomotive controller, the first generator compatible with the 4-stroke engine and configured to produce electric power when driven by the 4-stroke engine and to supply at least a portion of the electric power to the first traction motor, the first locomotive controller configured to generate and to transmit engine control signals to the first engine controller, the method further comprising:

installing an adapter between the second engine and the first generator, the adapter configured to operatively couple the second engine to the first generator to enable the second engine to drive the first generator, the first generator not compatible with the second engine; and

installing an interface between the second engine controller and the first locomotive controller, the interface configured to enable the second engine controller to regulate the operation of the second engine based on engine control signals generated by the first locomotive controller, the second engine controller not compatible with the first locomotive controller.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the engine control signals are generated in response to a throttle input received by the first locomotive controller, the throttle input associated with a horsepower to be supplied by the first generator.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the locomotive is either a line-haul locomotive or a switch locomotive.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further includes a first generator and a first locomotive controller, the first generator compatible with the 4-stroke engine and configured to produce electric power when driven by the 4-stroke engine and to supply at least a portion of the electric power to the first traction motor, the first locomotive controller configured to generate and to transmit engine control signals to the first engine controller, the method further comprising:

replacing the first generator with a second generator in the locomotive; and

replacing the first locomotive controller with a second locomotive controller, the second locomotive controller including a motor management module configured to enable the second locomotive controller to control the second generator to provide electric power compatible with the electrical characteristics of the first traction motor, the second locomotive controller configured to generate and transmit engine control signals to the second engine controller to operate the second engine.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising replacing a first accessory rack with a second accessory rack, wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further includes the first accessory rack.

9 . A repower kit for a locomotive that includes a first traction motor, a 4-stroke engine, a first engine controller, a first generator compatible with the 4-stroke engine, and a first locomotive controller configured to generate and transmit engine control signals to the first engine controller, the first engine controller configured to regulate operation of the 4-stroke engine based on the engine control signals received from the first locomotive controller, the repower kit comprising:

a second engine not compatible with the first generator, the second engine a 2-stroke engine replacement for the 4-stroke engine; and

a second engine controller configured to regulate operation of the second engine, the second engine controller and the second engine, in combination, adapted to meet at least Tier 0 emission standards for the locomotive when repowered, the second engine controller a replacement for the first engine controller.

10 . The repower kit of claim 9 , wherein the 4-stroke engine is either a twelve cylinder or a sixteen cylinder engine.

11 . The repower kit of claim 9 , wherein the second engine controller and the second engine, in combination, are further adapted to meet at least Tier 1 or Tier 2 emission standards for the locomotive when repowered.

12 . The repower kit of claim 9 , further including:

an adapter configured to operatively couple the second engine to the first generator to enable the second engine to drive the first generator; and

an interface configured to enable the second engine controller to regulate the operation of the second engine based on the engine control signals generated by the first locomotive controller.

13 . The repower kit of claim 12 , wherein locomotive is either a line-haul locomotive or a switch locomotive.

14 . The repower kit of claim 9 , further including:

a second generator different than the first generator; and

a second locomotive controller including a motor management module configured to enable the second locomotive controller to control the second generator to provide power compatible with the electrical characteristics of the first traction motor, the second locomotive controller configured to generate and transmit engine control signals to the second engine controller to operate the 2-stroke engine.

15 . The repower kit of claim 14 , further including a second accessory rack as a replacement for a first accessory rack, wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further includes the first accessory rack.

16 . The repower kit of claim 14 , further including a second cooling hood as a replacement for a first cooling hood, wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further includes the first cooling hood.

17 . A repowered locomotive, which prior to repowering included a first traction motor, a 4-stroke engine, a first engine controller, a first generator compatible with the 4-stroke engine, and a first locomotive controller configured to generate and transmit engine control signals to the first engine controller, the first engine controller configured to regulate operation of the 4-stroke engine, the repowered locomotive comprising:

a second engine installed in the locomotive instead of the 4-stroke engine, the second engine a 2-stroke engine; and

a second engine controller installed in the locomotive instead of the first engine controller, the second engine controller configured to regulate operation of the second engine, the second engine controller and the second engine, in combination, adapted to meet at least Tier 0, Tier 1 or Tier 2 emission standards for the locomotive when repowered.

18 . The repowered locomotive of claim 17 further including:

an adapter between the second engine and the first generator, the adapter configured to operatively couple the second engine to the first generator to enable the second engine to drive the first generator; and

an interface between the second engine controller and the first locomotive controller, the interface configured to enable the second engine controller to regulate the operation of the second engine based on the engine control signals generated by the first locomotive controller, the second engine controller not compatible with the first locomotive controller.

19 . The repowered locomotive of claim 17 further comprising:

a second generator different than the first generator; and

a second locomotive controller configured to generate and transmit engine control signals to a second engine controller to operate the 2-stroke engine, the second locomotive controller including a motor management module, the motor management module configured to enable the second locomotive controller to control the second generator to provide power compatible with the electrical characteristics of the first traction motor.

20 . The repowered locomotive of claim 19 , further including a second accessory rack as a replacement for a first accessory rack, wherein the locomotive, prior to being repowered, further included the first accessory rack.