System, Method and Computer Readable Media for Controlling Automatic Starts and Automatic Stops of a Locomotive Engine

A method for controlling automatic starts and automatic stops of a locomotive engine, the locomotive being used in one of a yard region and road region, said method being switchable between a yard mode and a road mode based upon said locomotive being respectively used in said yard region and said road region, said method comprising:

• sensing at least one pressure respectively supplied to at least one brake system of said locomotive and at least one brake system of a locomotive and train combination;
• comparing said pressure supplied to each of said at least one brake system with at least one stored pressure threshold for each of said yard mode and said road mode;
• comparing time-related data for said automatic stops during said road mode with at least one road mode threshold;
• sending one of a respective start up signal and a shut down signal to a locomotive engine, each of said respective start up signal and shut down signal based upon said comparing said pressure supplied to at least one brake system with at least one stored pressure threshold and said comparing time-related data for said automatic stops during said road mode with at least one road mode threshold;
• and
• causing one of said automatic start and automatic stop based upon said sending one of a respective start up signal and a shut down signal to a locomotive engine.

Computer readable media containing program instructions for a method for controlling automatic starts and automatic stops of a locomotive engine, the locomotive being used in one of a yard region and road region, said method being switchable between a yard mode and a road mode based upon said locomotive being respectively used in said yard region and said road region, said method comprising sensing at least one pressure respectively supplied to at least one brake system of said locomotive and at least one brake system of a locomotive and train combination, the computer readable media comprising:

• a computer program code for comparing said pressure supplied to at least one brake system with at least one stored pressure threshold for each of said yard mode and said road mode;
• a computer program code for comparing time-related data for said automatic stops during said road mode with at least one road mode threshold;
• a computer program code for sending one of a respective start up signal and a shut down signal to a locomotive engine, each of said computer program code for sending one of a respective start up signal and shut down signal based upon said computer program code for comparing said pressure supplied to at least one brake system with at least one stored pressure threshold and said computer program code for comparing time-related data for said automatic stops during said road mode with at least one road mode threshold;
• and
• a computer program code for causing one of said automatic start and automatic stop based upon said computer program code for sending one of a respective start up signal and a shut down signal to a locomotive engine.