Posted in locomotives…no answers so I will try it here… Watched a CN switcher drag a dead Herzog rail-train (short version- 5 or so cars with a backhoe) into the siding in Silver Lakes WI. The power for the unit was Herzog MCM XIII…Looked like early running gear (GP-7??)… Question: why would they spend all that $$ to make a custom carbody, and was I even close on trucks/frame? Repowered?? CN MTX guy had a HUGE fuse that needed to be replaced. Many trains backed up, not happy crews…
Was it a cowl? Several rail grinding firms liked those for the covered access out in the field to the machinery which not only propelled the train but also powered some of the equipment. EMD sold several “F38’s” for this purpose including some B units back in the 80’s.
Edit: Looks like it’s a converted GP38. I assume the new cowl body similarly has been done here mainly for protection from the elements out in the field when something goes wrong internally.
There’s also possibly special machinery of some sort inside and this provided more space for it all.
Work or construction train and power. Different than a regular locomotive’s duties with auxiliary services available. Might be special manufacture and design or might be adapted and rebuilt locomotive. Locomotive probably doesn’t go fast, is geared for low speeds, and certainly can’t be used on a stack train or the 7Am commuter run.
Just a guess but is the Herzog Machine you describe the one found on this linked site?
@ http://hrsi.com/services/mpm-multi-purpose-machine/
The Multi-Purpose Machine is a visitor around here on the BNSF. The back hoe is used to pick up metal debris ( Tie plates, spikes and other metallic items with its magnet) They also use it to gather up old ties.
Their other equipment that comes thru here is their Ford Highway Tractor that is used to distribute and pick up CWR, on their Rail Train on the Transcon.
MOW work on the BNSF is always interesting. they seem to use Contractors more and more, where it used to be all BNSF employees. The variety is amazing. Specialized High/Rail Trucks ( for welding of CWR Joints and repairs) Non Destructive Rail testing trucks, Rail Grinders ( LORAM). Ballast Trains ( for spreading, and Stockpiling Ballast) ( Herzog and GWR).
Herzog uses a variety of converted locomotives to power it’s “MPM (multipurpose machine)” MOW train units (which are essentially articulated strings of side dump ballast cars with a modified hydraulic excavator that runs on crane rails mounted on top of the cars). Some of the earlier models had “power units” rebuilt from older EMD switchers but most recently Herzog has had Metro East industries rebuild retired GP40’s for MPM service. “TRAINS” ran an article in the last year or so about Metro North showing one of the GP40 based units undergoing rebuilding.
They all are modified to a cowled, cab forward configuration and so are much like the units EMD built for Speno Rail Services (now Harsco) back in the 80’s (which were F40PH’s equipped with GP38-2 engines).
Question: saw a dead Herzog rail train being dragged into the siding in Silver Lake WI today… Power car was MCM XIII looked like running gear from a GP-7 with a totally custom car body… Why go to the expense of doing this and not just running a standard locomotive? Was I close on running gear? don’t have a picture, sorry. CN maintainer had a VERY large fuse to replace… would have made a good picture… Dave
My understanding is that it is important to Herzog that this assembly be viewed as a piece of Maintenance of Way equipment, and not as a ‘train’. A standard locomotive may lead some to view it as a train that requires a full crew, whereas a piece of MOW equipment only needs a single ‘operator’.
Some of these MOW tools like the MPM have a ‘remote control’ capability so that the excavator operator can move the entire piece of MOW equipment along the track while sitting in the excavator cab.
Good point on the MOW side vs. standard locomotive. This one did say " remote controlled" on the cab end.
The trucks looked like early GP7 stuff…I’m sure it has been repowered with a smaller diesel.
This unit (or one like it) is on the Herzog website.
Great answers guys! Thanks!!
Dave