Consist manager for managing two or more locomotives of a consist

A system for controlling a consist of at least first and second locomotives each having discrete operating modes, said first and second locomotives being configured for receiving control signals via a communication link, said system comprising:

• a locomotive control for indicating a desired power operating mode;
• a first controller electrically coupled to the first locomotive and a second controller electrically coupled to the first locomotive and the second locomotive, wherein the first and second controllers receive information corresponding to a brake designation of the first and second locomotives, respectively, and wherein one of the first and second controllers is identified as a lead controller as a function of the received brake designations, and wherein the identified lead controller is responsive to the desired power operating mode as indicated by the locomotive control for determining a mode of operation of the first locomotive according to a first power operating mode and for determining a mode of operation of the second locomotive according to a second power operating mode, wherein, in at least one mode of operation of the system, the first power operating mode is different as compared to the second power operating mode;
• wherein said lead controller is coupled to the communication link for providing information corresponding to the first power operating mode to the first locomotive and for providing information corresponding to the second power operating mode to the second locomotive;
• and
• wherein the lead controller determines that the power operating modes of the first and second locomotives are selected as a function of a fuel consumption rate of at least one of the first and second locomotives.