North American diesel-electric locomotives have a throttle with idle and eight running notches, each one raising engine speed and power output. Running in eight means the engineer has the throttle all the way open, either to drag a heavy train over a grade or to make up time on a fast one. Engineers talk in notches, so 'she's in four' or 'notch her up' come up as often as speed figures.
Heard on the job
We're running eight up the grade and still only making 14, a couple of those loads must be dragging brakes.
Insider tip
On heavy trains at low speed, engineers watch the load meter as closely as the notch, because traction motors held at high amperage too long overheat.
Also heard as
- notch eight
- run 8
- wide open