How do you turn on a locomotive's engine?

Question

A car's engine is turned on and off with a key. How is a locomotive's engine turned on and off?

Answer 1

.Just as Bob told you.We also have auto-start locomotives now that shut themselves down usually in 10 minutes and stay that way til one of three things happen.Either the engineer moves the reverser from the center position,the outside air temperature drops below a certain degree level,or the main reservoir air pressure drops below a certain point.Some new units also have air powered starters now to avoid dead battery problems

Answer 2

Push the button or turn the switch, depending on the locomotive.  Of course you have to set all the proper circuit breakers first.  As for the people trying to be funny they forgot about manipulating the lay shaft.

Answer 3

stroke it gently

(haha, Mariner beat me to it)

Answer 4

In addition to Skidderback's answer, many years ago, some locomotives used a starter motor that ran on compressed air instead of electricity.  Heaven help you if the compressed air tank ran out of air before the engine fully cranked over - you would have to get another locomotive out there to charge up the air tank to start the engine.  Interestingly enough, some modern EMD locomotives also use compressed air to start up, but they can use the air compressor powered by their battery to build up an air charge.

I realize that this answer wasn't the one you were looking for, so let me help you:  to start a locomotive, you need to hire out on the railroad and work for between 3 and 5 years for them.  Then, the railroad will send you to a special school for engineers, and they will teach you how to start up the engine.  That's how you do it.

Answer 5

The specifics shouldn't be discussed, as there is no "key", but after properly positioning a number of electrical switches, when starting, there are two electric, 72 volt, 400 amp starter motors that engage the flywheel and start the engine's crank shaft turning.  Diesels do not need spark plugs or other electrical supply once they fire up, compression alone igniting the fuel in the cylinders.  

You cut off the fuel supply to stop the diesel engine, which is properly called the "prime mover."  Use of this term avoids confusion as locomotive units themselves are called an "engine" as well.

Answer 6

Ummm... whisper sweet comments about it's Caboose ??

The first two answers are correct, so I decided to just be silly