A dynamometer car is used for testing the performance of locomotives. These cars are commonly used by railroads as an operational system to measure horsepower, pull, speed and other factors that dictate the overall efficiency of the locomotive. The measurement is made by the force of air that is forced into the locomotive by the engine. Dampened train movements can result in inaccurate readings whereas an efficient locomotive will display constant performance results.
General Description of a Dynamometer Car
The function of a dynamometer car can also be utilized to gauge the overall efficiency of the railroad as a whole. There are several factors that influence the efficiency rating of any railroad including the quality of the track, the condition of the engines, and the overall operating procedure of the railroad. A locomotive is highly efficient if it runs smoothly without excessive delays and if it can achieve the maximum level of power output while using the smallest amount of power. The overall efficiency of the railroad can be significantly improved with the help of a dynamometer car.
The general function of a dynamometer car has been given above. Now we would like to talk about the different parts of these dynamometer cars. The major parts are the front coupler, the drawbar pull down, the seat frame, the seat bottom, the chart recorder, the control arm, and the hand brake. All these parts are extremely important and play an extremely crucial role in the overall efficiency of your train.