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