What Does Diesel-electric Mean?

In a Diesel-electric train the Diesel engine major mover drives an electric generator whose output provides control to the traction motors. There is no mechanical connection stuck between the prime mover and the driving wheels (drivers). Conceptually, this type of train is an electric locomotive that incorporates its own generate station, construction it well suited for maneuver in areas that do not have electrify railways.

The important apparatus of Diesel-electric propulsion are the major mover, main generator (or traction generator, which may actually be an alternator), traction motors and a control scheme consisting of the train governor, load regulator and traction motor switchgear. In principle, the electrical output from the producer is directed from side to side the switchgear to the grip motors, which are automatically coupled to the drivers by spur gearing.

Originally, the grip motors in addition to generator were DC machines. Following the progress of high capacity silicon rectifiers in the 1960s, the DC generator was replacing by an alternator by a diode bridge to rectify its productivity to DC.