Section IV. STARTING THE POWER PLANT
each engine operates properly and that the lubricating
19. Preparatory to Starting Engines
oil pressure builds up.
a. Before starting the engines, see that no tools,
bolts, nuts, or other materials are lying around the
c. See that the battery is being charged as
engine or generator where they could possibly get
indicated by the battery meter.
caught or fall into any of the working mechanism.
d. The diesel engine has no ignition and depends
b. Close the battery switch and the control and fuel
upon the heat developed by compression to make it fire.
pump circuit breaker. Close the auxiliary generator
Therefore, after periods of shutdown during cold
cutout circuit breaker and all engine alarm cutout
weather where the engine has cooled down to air
switches.
temperature, there is danger of completely discharging
the battery by continued cranking before the cylinders
c. Properly set all engine alarm apparatus.
get warm enough to start. To guard against this
d. See that lubricating oil valves and system are
condition a kerosene heater is provided for the purpose
set properly.
of warming up the cooling water in the engine jacket.
e. See that fuel oil valves and system are set
Refer to paragraphs 23 through 27 for operating
properly.
instructions for this heater.
f. Check lubricating oil of engines and
e. Do not attempt to start the engines until engine
temperature shows at least 60 or 70o on the engine
g. Check fuel oil, cooling water and sand supplies.
temperature indicator. After the engine starts, shut
down the heater and close the valve to the engine
20. Starting the Engines
cooling system.
a. Place the reverse handle of the controller in the
ENGINE ONLY position. The throttle handle may be
engines if locomotives are to operate in multiple.
advanced a few notches for starting.
b. Start each engine separately by pushing the
start button for the respective engine and observe that
Section V. OPERATING THE LOCOMOTIVE
21. Single Unit Operation
c. To Start Locomotive and Regulate Speed.
a. Diesel Engines.
(1) After the engines are running, place the
reverse handle for the desired locomotive
(1) While operating the engines, make
direction and notch out on the throttle
regular check of lubricating oil pressures
handle.
Opening the throttle handle
and cooling water temperatures.
increases the speed of the engine to
(2) If the engines become overheated for any
increase the voltage across traction
reason, never add water to the cooling
motors and accelerates the locomotive.
system until the engines have cooled off.
(2) Motor field shunting is automatically
(3) After pulling heavy loads, allow the
obtained at a predetermined main
engines to idle for a few minutes before
generator voltage.
A voltage relay
stopping them to prevent the danger of
controls this transition to close and open
boiling the cooling water.
the field shunting contactors.
b. Brakes.
(1) Do not attempt to move the locomotive
Caution
until the brake pipe gauge hand indicates
Great care must be exercised to
full brake pipe pressure.
avoid overspeeding the traction
(2) Never depend upon the airbrakes to hold
motors. Maximum permissible speed
the locomotive on a grade when the
is 42 mph.
compressors are shut down.
(3) In emergencies apply the brakes at once
d. Load Indicator. This locomotive is equipped
and shut off the power afterwards.
with load ammeters which have both a colored band
scale and an ampere scale. The ammeter is
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