locomotive won't 'Load'

I've heard this term used a few times, what does it mean exactly?

The engine is revving (operating) but not producing power to move.

Edited by a Moderator (clarity) 1-21-10 510PM CST

Means the prime mover (diesel engine) revs up in response to throttle command but no power gets transmitted to the traction motors.

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A (rough) automotive analogy is stepping on the gas pedal with the transmission in "N". The engine speeds up but the car doesn't move.

Speaking as an electrician... when it won't load (at all) that's much easier to trouble shoot than when the crew says "it's not loading properly" which means it's either not loading to its' full potential, or the thing isn't loading as the crew expects it to.

There's all sorts of reasons why it won't load to full potential... even two locomotives that were built one after the other might not load exactly the same... but try telling that to some of the people that (ab)use them!!!

A common problem is a locomotive only loading in reverse or forward, not both. That is most times a broken wire on the reverser.