I have an insider friend working for Catapillar. As many of you know Catapillar has delved into the locomotive business replacing engines and remanufacturing GP series locos. I don’t have any pictures of this truck. But I will try to post some drawings of it as I go by the description he gave me. I can’t tell you who he is or he would get fired. He said the idea came from WW2 as they were contemplating what to do if there was a shortage of locomotives for switching duty. Solution, bulldozer tracks with built in flanges so they could run on RR tracks. This idea was also considered for tanks until they realized they were too wide for standard gauge. Think of it, a bulldozer is built strong enough for this and is heavy enough. But not really fast. Add an adequate air compressor system and knuckle coupler and your in business. Well Catapillar is developing an all new modern design based upon this concept, using modern steel and manufacturing techniques. They will be testing replacement trucks on a rebuilt GP20 in late july. Their computers show a possible triple-ing of tractive effort and a possible top speed of 50 mph.
I bet those rubber train tires that Michelin is working on will be better, still!
Montreal’s subway system is on rubber tires.
Ahh, yes. The joys of April 1st.
The Milwaukee Road did a study on this a few years back, and found that steam catarpillar tractors were much more cost efficient than diesels.
And their pulling power was fantastic…as an added bouns, you will no longer need a snow plow on some models.
…and with the added “sideboom”, you can rerail yourself!
Maybe the blade will do better during at-grade meets!
I’m sure the Caterpillar treads would be more annoying on the rails than ordinary steel wheels are, and therefore generate more NIMBYs than ordinary horn-blowing. But with the right options, revenge on said back yards could be very sweet!
Cmon people let
s do it the right!! It`s Caterpillar LOL.
Shhh…Don’t wake up the NIMBY’s, this is a quiet zone!..will need to bring back the caboose as this cab only has room for one…brakes remote controlled from caboose via radio…or horn signals!!!