Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a vehicle are provided. In one example, a method for operating a vehicle may include flowing compressed gas selectively through distinct orifice sizes depending on an operating condition of the vehicle. In another example, the vehicle may be a rail vehicle. In one example, the compressed gas may include compressed ambient air, and where the compressed gas is selectively delivered toward an upstream of a vehicle wheel riding on a rail via a nozzle. In another example, the compressed gas may be selectively delivered through a first orifice and not a second orifice to the nozzle during a first condition, and delivered through the second orifice and not the first orifice during a second condition different from the first condition.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and a method for predicting locomotive engine bearing failures (e.g., main bearing failures). In example embodiments, the method may access locomotive data about a particular locomotive engine, and generate a set of element concentration trajectories therefrom. Each element concentration trajectory includes a measure of element concentrations in the locomotive engine's oil over a period of time. The method further includes determining a health score of the locomotive engine based on a comparison of the set of element concentrations with a set of baseline element concentration trajectories that are representative of element concentrations of a group of locomotive engines' oil over the period of time. The health score provides a measure of the likelihood of bearing failure in the particular locomotive engine. A message regarding the likelihood of bearing failure may then be provided.