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Originally Posted by njlou
BTW locomotives use the diesel/electric propultion systems. the diesel is computer controlled to run a generator at peak efficiency. In effect it IS a hybrid. It is a multi ton Prius???LOL.
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Not so. The electric part of a standard diesel-electric locomotive is just a transmission, so calling one a hybrid is like claiming an automatic transmission makes a car a hydraulic hybrid.
There apparently are a few experimental hybrid locomotives used as switching engines. And in some places in Europe (I remember seeing one in Finland some years ago), there are hybrid diesel-electric systems that pull power from overhead wires when available, but run on the diesel engine otherwise.