System and method for automated locomotive startup and shutdown recommendations

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing train consist data and route data for a train consist, the train consist comprising a locomotive consist and a plurality of cars, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive;
• and
• a processor configured to
• (1) apply the train consist data and the route data using a plurality of rules, wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data,
• wherein the processor is further configured to, as part of applying the territory rule,
• (i) determine territory data for a route segment based on the route data,
• (ii) determine whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply, and
• (iii) in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, prevent the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down, and
• (2) in response to applying the train consist data and the route data using the rules, automatically generate recommendation data that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for a route segment.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

• a plurality of instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and executable by a processor of a computer,
• wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the computer to:
• process train consist data and route data for a train consist, the train consist comprising a locomotive consist and a plurality of cars, the locomotive consist comprising a lead locomotive and a rearmost locomotive;
• apply the train consist data and the route data using a plurality of rules, wherein the rules comprise a territory rule that is configured to prevent a shut down recommendation of the rearmost locomotive in a predefined territory as determined from the route data,
• wherein execution of the territory rule further causes the computer to
• (a) determine territory data for a route segment based on the route data,
• (b) determine whether the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, the predefined territory being indicative of a particular territory where safety braking considerations apply, and
• (c) in response to a positive determination that the territory data corresponds to the predefined territory, prevent the rearmost locomotive from being recommended for a shut down;
• and
• in response to applying the train consist data and the route data using the rules, automatically generate recommendation data that is indicative of how many and which locomotives of the train consist should be powered on or shut down for the route segment.