Patent ID: 8196518

Claim:
A method of retrofitting a passenger locomotive with a hybrid energy head end power (HEP) system to provide head end power that is substantially continuously provided to a passenger railcar while the locomotive is in use, the locomotive operable in a motoring mode and a dynamic braking mode while the locomotive is in use, the locomotive having a primary power source that provides primary electrical energy to power a traction motor when in the motoring mode, and the traction motor generating excess electrical energy when the locomotive is in the dynamic braking mode, the method comprising: installing an HEP energy storage system on the locomotive, the HEP energy storage system to store the excess electrical energy generated by the traction motor during operation of the locomotive in the dynamic braking mode; electrically connecting the HEP energy storage system to the traction motor; electrically connecting the HEP energy storage system to the primary power source, wherein the primary power source is electrically connected to a traction bus to provide the primary electrical energy to the traction motor for propulsion of the locomotive; and electrically connecting the HEP energy storage system to an HEP bus; wherein the HEP energy storage system is further to generate head end power that is suitable for non-motoring use by a passenger railcar by converting the stored excess electrical energy and primary electrical energy into the head end power and providing the head end power to the HEP bus substantially continuously while the passenger locomotive is in use.