Author: Amanda Rodriguez

A traction motor failure is expensive twice: once when the motor comes out, and again every day that locomotive sits waiting for a repair. Most shortline maintenance officers know this. What they do not always have is a clear picture of why traction motors fail and what to do about it. This article covers both….

Most of the DC traction motors in service today are EMD-era units, originally manufactured in the 1950s through 1970s and rebuilt repeatedly since. They are quality equipment with decades of proven performance behind them, but they are not immune to failure. When one goes down, what happens next depends almost entirely on the preparation you…