The invention discloses an optimal traction torque online search based locomotive adhesion control method, comprising the following steps: S1, performing idling detection on locomotive axles, recognizing the axle with idling operation first of a locomotive as a search axle, and the rest axles as receiving axles; S2, obtaining the optimal traction torque, suitable for operating under a current railsurface working condition, of the search axle through an optical traction torque online search algorithm; and S3, quickly responding to changes, caused by an axle weight transfer phenomenon, of adhesion weight to regulate the optimal traction torque of each receiving axle based on the optimal traction torque of the search axle. According to the optimal traction torque online search based locomotive adhesion control method disclosed by the invention, an adhesion control strategy of the whole locomotive is designed, integrity of the locomotive is taken into consideration, and influences, on adhesion weight of each axle, by the axle weight transfer phenomenon of the vehicle body, are analyzed; and the axles are cooperatively matched by virtue of the advantage of independently regulating thetorque by an the axle-control type traction system, so that integral traction force of the locomotive can be effectively improved, and integral traction performance of the locomotive is improved.