A drivetrain system for a machine which is a railroad locomotive, the drivetrain system comprising a closed-loop control module , the control module including an engine speed controller and a brake controller : an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to means for propelling the machine over a work surface and to the engine speed controller ; a brake operatively coupled to the means for propelling the machine over the work surface and to the brake controller ; and a controller in communication with the engine speed controller and the brake controller and operatively coupled to the engine and the brake , the controller being configured to: generate a first speed error based on a first speed command signal and a current ground speed signal , wherein the first speed command signal corresponds to a desired ground speed of the machine and the current ground speed signal corresponds to a current ground speed of the machine , wherein a value of the first speed command signal is lower than a steady-state idle ground speed of the machine that corresponds to the internal combustion engine being operated at an idle condition and the brake being disengaged; send the first speed error to the engine speed controller and to the brake controller ; the engine speed controller being configured to generate a first engine speed command signal based on the first speed error ; and send the first engine speed command signal to the engine ; the brake controller being configured to compare the first speed error to an upper threshold ; set a brake command signal to an engagement value, via the brake controller , when a magnitude of the first speed error is greater than a magnitude of the upper threshold ; engage the brake in response to setting the brake command signal to the engagement value; and the controller being configured to: increase a speed of the engine in response to the first engine speed command signal while the brake command signal is set to the engagement value. an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to means for propelling the machine over a work surface and to the engine speed controller ; a brake operatively coupled to the means for propelling the machine over the work surface and to the brake controller ; and a controller in communication with the engine speed controller and the brake controller and operatively coupled to the engine and the brake , generate a first speed error based on a first speed command signal and a current ground speed signal , wherein the first speed command signal corresponds to a desired ground speed of the machine and the current ground speed signal corresponds to a current ground speed of the machine , wherein a value of the first speed command signal is lower than a steady-state idle ground speed of the machine that corresponds to the internal combustion engine being operated at an idle condition and the brake being disengaged; send the first speed error to the engine speed controller and to the brake controller ; generate a first engine speed command signal based on the first speed error ; and send the first engine speed command signal to the engine ; compare the first speed error to an upper threshold ; set a brake command signal to an engagement value, via the brake controller , when a magnitude of the first speed error is greater than a magnitude of the upper threshold ; engage the brake in response to setting the brake command signal to the engagement value; and <EOS>