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Improving tractive effort is a very complex task in locomotive design. It requires the development of not only mechanical systems but also power systems, traction machines and traction algorithms. At the initial design stage, traction algorithms can be verified by means of a simulation approach. A simple single wheelset simulation approach is not sufficient because all locomotive dynamics are not fully taken into consideration. Given that many traction control strategies exist, the best solution is to use more advanced approaches for such studies. This paper describes the modelling of a locomotive with a bogie traction control strategy based on a co-simulation approach in order to deliver more accurate results. The simplified and advanced modelling approaches of a locomotive electric power system are compared in this paper in order to answer a fundamental question. What level of modelling complexity is necessary for the investigation of the dynamic behaviours of a heavy-haul locomotive running under traction? The simulation results obtained provide some recommendations on simulation processes and the further implementation of advanced and simplified modelling approaches.

In recent years, there have been significant activities in the development of hybrid, battery electric and alternative fuel (e.g., LPG, LNG, CNG) locomotives. However, to date there is a limited number of publications on the usage of such modelling and simulation approaches for hydrogen-powered rail vehicles, and almost no publications on hydrogen-powered heavy haul locomotives. A conceptual heavy haul hydrogen-powered locomotive has been designed and studied with the application of advanced simulation techniques used in recent locomotive/train/track damage studies. The detailed locomotive model includes multibody subsystems for the mechanical system of the locomotive and a traction power system implemented in the Matlab/Simulink software package. The traction performance evaluation has been performed through the delivery of traction effort characteristics of the proposed locomotive through co-simulation between multibody software and Matlab/Simulink and the evaluation of locomotive traction performance in a train configuration where the developed hydrogen-powered locomotive has been placed in a head-end locomotive consist for hauling a heavy haul train. The paper presents a summary of the simulation results, and detailed discussion of the limitations that have been identified in the approach.

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