details about locomotives, railways, and all related

[LaneHogger]

I'm a crime novel writer, not as famous as Agatha Christie yet, but I've got a couple of my books out now.
I'm writing another novel now, this time it involves a diesel locomotive, its crew, and human cargo, pulling into a depot. I'm hoping to get some help with a few things:

I need locomotive shutdown details, like what exactly happens when a diesel locomotive throttles down to idle and then gets shut off? I'm looking for the sequence of events.
Are there any books out there about trains and railroads that have technical details, but are easy to understand by a beginner?
Any advice or insights would be super appreciated!

 

[Suckerpunched]

A book about trains, please please please let me know when it's out

The base steps are gradually throttling down to idle, letting it rest for a while to cool down, then shutting off the engine, then applying the air brake and then shutting down the electrical systems.

Want me to get into greater detail about the steps?

 

[Sheen Watson]

That sounds like a fascinating storyline—combining crime fiction with the gritty realism of railroads is a unique twist! While I'm more into motorcycles than locomotives I totally get the need for technical accuracy to keep readers immersed. For diesel shutdown procedures, you might want to look into books like Diesel-Electric Locomotives by Brian Solomon—very beginner-friendly and full of real-world process details. Best of luck with the novel

 

[Sheen Watson]

A book about trains, please please please let me know when it's out

 

[Randy]

I have a reservation on the Auto Train. I am taking a Harley Davidson Trike which had been approved. My question is. 1 I have a small trailer hitch cargo rack on my trike. Is that a problem?
Also is there any place to park a truck and trailer for the week?

 

[Carter McDermott]

Randy,

The extra accessories depend on the size because you are only allowed so much property on the train. And there is a place you can store your vehicle. We pride ourselves on making the customer happy by any means necessary!

Thank you for riding

 

[Alan]

Hey @LaneHogger, sounds like a really cool story idea. For diesel shutdown, you’re basically looking at throttling down to idle, letting things cool, shutting the engine, then the air brakes, and finally the electricals. If you want, I can break down each step in a bit more detail. It helps make it feel real to readers.