What is the advantage of using regenerating brakes in electric locomotives?

Question

What is the advantage of using regenerating brakes in electric locomotives?

Answer 1

None whatsoever

Answer 2

The power produced can be fed back into the grid.  Diesel Locomotive use regenerative breaking also since they use an electric transmission.  The diesels run generators that power electric motors on the wheels.  In the case of the diesel/electric locomotive, the power is wasted as heat through resisters on the roof.

Answer 3

Huge huge advantage, with dynamic brakes the excess electricity generated is dissipated as heat through large electrical grids, totally wasted.

Through regeneration, it is a lot like a hybrid car only more efficient, it returns electricity back into the overhead system for use by other trains.

If there were to be an excess it can be modulated and actually returned into the grid.

When the country finally gets serious about the environment, I foresee regenerative braking and electric powered trains making a big comeback, perhaps through incentives offered for installation costs.

There is an awful lot of generating capacity being wasted at the present time.

Answer 4

The advantage is that not only does the electrical transmission work to power the locomotives it can also work to be fed back into the system, thus slowing their movement on downhill grades and acting as an extra form of braking (along with the standard air brakes).  This is one reason why electrified rail lines are very efficient.