Rail roads and their tracks.

[Cub 7274]

Slug or Slave unit extra traction motors

 

[BravoXray]

It's a locomotive that has no engine, just electric traction motors. It gets it's electricity from the engine attached to it. The way I understand it is it takes advantage of the excess current that's available from a train engine at low speed. They use (or used to use) them in switching and hump yards.

Slug (railroad) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They are still using one in the yard.

 

[Hay Dude]

That seems strange. Cant say Ive ever had the privilege of seeing one of them

 

[MossRoad]

They are still using one in the yard.

Cool. There used to be a few dozen. Is it paint NS or still Conrail?

 

[MossRoad]

Another thing... the slugs I saw were low and no cab, so easy to distinguish, like in the picture I posted above. There are slugs that look like a regular engine, with a cab, but no diesel engine inside. Apparently some of them don't have radiators since no engine, so a bit easier to distinguish, but for an average person like myself, I doubt I'd be able to distinguish a slug like that from a regular engine without close inspection.

 

[BravoXray]

Cool. There used to be a few dozen. Is it paint NS or still Conrail?

NS Paint, hooked to a GP38-2 If I remember correctly.
I'll watch for it and get a picture next time I see it in the yard.

 

[MossRoad]

NS Paint, hooked to a GP38-2 If I remember correctly.
I'll watch for it and get a picture next time I see it in the yard.

Thanks!

 

[MossRoad]

I found this list of NS slugs that you'd never know were slugs. They have cabs and were rebuilt from non-slug units.

NS Diesel Locomotive Roster - EMD/NS RP-M4C Slug Nos. 610-627, 645-662

Some specs... note: Horsepower = 0

General Info​

NS Model Designation = RP-M4C
Horsepower = 0
Fuel Tank Capacity = 0
Dynamic Braking = Yes
Cab Signals = See Below
LSL = See Below
Air Conditioning = Yes

Units 610-627 assigned to operation with an NS EMD GP59E or GP59ECO master unit.

Units 645-661 assigned to operation with an NS EMD GP33ECO master unit.

Equipped with a cab and can be used to lead consist.

Equipped with EMD EM2000 microprocessor control system.

Equipped with CCB 26 electronic air brake system.

Equipped with an electric parking brake.

Rebuilt with new NS "Admiral" standard cab and low short hood design.

Units equipped with Cab Signals and LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter):
610-627, 659-660

Units equipped with R/C equipment for use in radio control operations:
610-621​

 

[MossRoad]

Some more cool slug pictures here. different styles.

NS Diesel Locomotive Roster - EMD/NS RPU6D Slug Nos. 889-895

NS Diesel Locomotive Roster - EMD/NS RPU6 Slug Nos. 870-888

And here's a video that does a really good job of explaining slugs. And even tells where the name came from at the end. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[MossRoad]