I remember asking this to one of my mentors many years ago. He sat and thought about it for quite a while and figured that it could theoretically be done on an older unit, such as a GP-9 or NW-2, units without solid state electrical components. He figured that by manually closing certain relays and such, the traction motors could become generators and conceivably, theoretically, recharge dead batteries or even provide voltage to the main generator and start the prime mover. He wasn't totally convinced the idea would work or how far you would have to push the unit to get an adequate charge.

We used arc welders more than once to jump start units. At the Redheads world headquarters arty the Norwegian Riviera we had a set of extra long welding cables specifically for jump starting one unit with annoyed. I hate electricity but yet it seemed like I was the one who always was elected to hook them up to the blades of the battery switch in the low voltage cabinet.

What bad attitude?

Even this guy says no, I concur...

http://youtu.be/EHuuU9e0bdg

BlackDog wrote:

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We used arc welders more than once to jump start units.

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 Sounds like some MILW technology.