Control system enabling remote locomotive configuration setting

A method of configuring a locomotive, comprising:

• selectively configuring a plurality of operational control devices located on-board the locomotive to change a configuration setting for the locomotive when the locomotive is ready for travel;
• selectively configuring the plurality of operational control devices upon receipt of a single configuration command signal by an on-board controller located on-board the locomotive, wherein the plurality of operational control devices may be switched by the single configuration command signal to at least one of:
• set the locomotive into a run configuration;
• change the designation for the locomotive between lead and trailing designations;
• and
• change distributed power control for the locomotive between distributed power lead, remote distributed power lead, and unlinked power, wherein:
• setting the at least one locomotive into a run configuration, changing the designation of the at least one locomotive, and changing distributed power control each include changing multiple operational control settings as a result of the single configuration command signal, wherein the multiple settings that are changed include at least two of:
• a fuel control setting, a traction control setting, a generator setting, a setting of an automatic brake handle, a setting of an independent brake handle, a setting of an electrically controlled pneumatic brake, and a setting of an equalizing reservoir pressure for air brakes;
• and
• sending the single configuration command signal from an off-board remote user interface located remotely from the locomotive upon activation of a single input on the remote user interface.

A control system for a train, wherein the train comprises at least a lead consist of locomotives including at least a lead locomotive and a trailing locomotive, and a trailing consist of locomotives including at least a lead locomotive and a trailing locomotive;

• the control system comprising:
• a plurality of operational control devices located on-board at least one of the locomotives, wherein the plurality of operational control devices may be configured to change a configuration setting for the at least one locomotive when the at least one locomotive is ready for travel;
• an on-board controller located on-board the at least one locomotive, the on-board controller being configured to switch the plurality of operational control devices upon receipt of a single configuration command signal to at least one of:
• set the at least one locomotive into a run configuration;
• change the designation for the at least one locomotive between lead and trailing designations;
• and
• change distributed power control for the at least one locomotive between distributed power lead, remote distributed power lead, and unlinked power, wherein:
• setting the at least one locomotive into a run configuration, changing the designation of the at least one locomotive, and changing distributed power control each include changing multiple operational control settings as a result of the single configuration command signal, wherein the multiple settings that are changed include at least two of:
• a fuel control setting, a traction control setting, a generator setting, a setting of an automatic brake handle, a setting of an independent brake handle, a setting of an electrically controlled pneumatic brake, and a setting of an equalizing reservoir pressure for air brakes.