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[quote user="Thomas 9011"] A locomotive engine is going to get the same fuel rate regardless if it is coasting down a hill or going up it. When you put the throttle into what ever notch you want,the throttle position is going to limit how much fuel is going to the injectors and limiting your speed.  Locomotive engines are not like putting your car on cruise control when you go up and down a hill. The RPM's and fuel rate does not increase or decrease when you go faster or slower according to speed. If locomotives had accelerator pedals like cars do then we would see a wide range of fluctuations. But since they have notches that tell how much fuel the injectors will get at that notch it will stay constant at that notch no matter what speed they are going. <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote]   Locomotive fuel use varies in any given throttle position.  <o:p></o:p> The throttle notches maintain the engine RPM, but the load regulator controls the fuel.  To use your brick analogy, put a brick on the accelerator of a car on a level road where it balances out at 30 mph.  When it comes to an ascending grade, it will slow down because the load increases, and throttle, being the only controller of how much fuel the engine gets, keeps the fuel feed constant.  <o:p></o:p> Put a locomotive in some notch where it runs level at 30 mph.  When it comes to an ascending grade, the load regulator senses this additional load and begins to increase the electrical output in order to maintain the engine RPM.  The load regulator adds more electrical loading to the generator and makes it harder to turn.  Then the governor adds more fuel to match the added generator load.  All the while, the throttle stays in the same notch.   <o:p></o:p> I would say you could state the fuel usage in each throttle notch with no load on the engine, but the information would not have much meaning for any practical comparison of locomotive work per fuel consumption.
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