Damm they are huge I never even thought about a locomotive battery but i did did a fast google search and found this
Changhong Locomotive Battery (pocket type and sintered type Ni-CAD battery ) are widely used for the following locomotive and light train applications.
1) Emergency power supply for control and light.
Reference: KPH80 KPL125, KPL135, KPL165, KPM120, KPL300-(3)et.
2) Engine starting on locomotive.
Reference: KPX170, KPX190, KPM220 etc.
3) Pantograph lifting on electric locomotive.
Reference: KPL100, KPH120, KPX180 etc.
4) Signal control on the ground for track traffic.
Reference: KPM100, KPM200 etc.
For railway and locomotive application, our products such as KPM170, KPM170-(5) KPM220, KPM190 etc. Are applied as starting power for diesel locomotives; KPL100, KPL100-(2), KPL100-(3), KPH120 etc. Are applied as power of lifting pantograph for electric locomotives; KPM100, KPM150, KPM400 etc. Are applied for railway signaling and telecommunications; And KM45P, KPH20, KPM40-(7), KPM120-(4) etc. Are applied as emergency power supply for air-conditioned passenger cars.
For subway and light train application, KMZ120P is applied to Shanghai Subway Line I on DC01 direct-current electrically operated rolling-stocks; KMZ160P is applied to Shanghai Subway Line II on AC01/AC02 alternating-current electrically operated rolling-stocks; GN60-YL is applied to Iran and Beijing subway rolling-stocks as complete sets of rechargeable battery; KHP35, KXP80-(4), KPL50 are applied to Korea Taegu Subway, Spain Subway and Beijing Subway as emergency power supply and lighting; KPM60-(4), KPM100 are applied to 200Km/h high speed train as standby rechargeable battery and so on.
Changhong pocket plate Ni-CAD batteries, such as KPM200, KPM75, KPM30, KPM150, KPH100 have been applicable for Line 1&2 and Northern extension line in Tehran Metro.
Changhong sintered plate Ni-CAD battery KPX90 have installed in locomotive trains between Germany and Hungary in Dec, 2008.