In order to control the calculated coefficient of adhesion of the locomotive bandages with the rail, a controlled starting of the career locomotive is suggested, in which the relative traction coefficient varies over the time according to the exponential dependence. To realize a rational starting process the tractive effort during the ¼ of the starting period should be ¾ of the maximum which is recommended by the traction conditions for a given section of the track, and for the remaining time, i.e. in the interval of the subsequent three-fourths of the starting time, the tractive effort must be smoothly brought to the required level, acceleration during the same period must also be changed (decreased) and at the end of the starting process, when the train reaches the working speed at this track section, it must be made equal to zero. It is proposed a relationship for determining of the starting time of the locomotive, depending on the initial parameters and actual operating conditions, which makes it possible to develop technical requirements for the automatic launch system of a open pit locomotive, which ensure the implementation of the maximum possible values of adhesion coefficients closed to optimal after the starting process.

It is known that a locomotive startup process usually consists of two consecutive phases (initial and final). From the point of view of the adhesive force implementation, it is important how the driving force changes during each of the startup phases and what the length of each phase is. The law of distribution of the realized values of the adhesion coefficient and the use of adhesive force depend on the law of change in the startup driving force we use to approach the limit of adhesion. The choice of the startup mode can be crucial in the most heavy-duty mode of the locomotive – when starting-up and setting the train in operation. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that immediately after the motion onset, acceleration should not exceed 0.5% of the maximum possible for these conditions. It means that in the first sampling interval (up to approximately 5% of the starting duration), the driving effort must be sufficiently small, namely, F = 0,005·Fmax. Then, it must slowly increase to about 15–20% of the starting duration over each sampling interval. It is established that in the startup mode with the proposed step-by-step method of controlling the driving force, the speed of the locomotive almost completely coincides with its corresponding speed during continuous adjustment. Deviation makes up not more than 2-3%. It can be explained by the inertia of the wheelset drive of the locomotive, which will not lead to clutch stalling and wheel slipping.