OK mystery hounds, name this piece of equipment. I know what it is, let’s see if you can divine it’s purpose…
I have a feeling that this is not a locomotive as such…
I has power bogies and fuel tanks -but I think this is what is sometimes called a “slug” in that it feeds its power from the main loco for its power bogies and feeds fuel and water to the loco. It is not self propelling in any form!!!
regards
ralph
It’s not wise to assume Cabbage…[;)] Are you sure those bogies are powered?[:-^]
Hmmm…
-odd body configuration
-unusual color, not being the typical NS black
-small fuel tank
-non powered trucks
-no dynamic brakes
maybe some type of portable power generator?
T J
MAY BE IT has something to do with track laying or track alinement ??? ben
You’re in the ball park Ben…[swg]
generator
Is it a track load test car, measuring track modulus, something like that?
Dynomometer car.
See the top cut out and the half size fuel tank? It’s to test crashes with crumple zones,
… or how about the new T52 stealth rocket launcher?
T J
A track x-ray machine that looks for bad track??? BEN
It does seem to be a car concerned with track testing. Research is marked on its side.
Not sure of it’s exact purpose but I know it’s NS #34. And I’ve seen it in photos of “track inspection” trains. But not sure what #34 does. And I think it didn’t have a cab for a while.
Track Geometry? Scale Test Car? Other? No clue, but it is sure one of the craziest contraptions I’ve seen. Only reason I know of the NS 34 is because it looks so weird.
Southwest has it I think. Used for measuring track geometry. cabless like a slug. Marked for research. Look at rrpicturesarchives.net for it and it’s sister, Joe
Yea, Norfolk Southern #34 is a track geometry car. It used to be Norfolk and Western SD35 #1530. Norfolk Southern #34 now belongs to the Norfolk Southern Research & Tests Department and is in their Office Train paint scheme
How’d you know all of this, being clear out west there where you are ??
Byron C.
Very good! Yes, it used to be an SD35, it was gutted, reworked and is now part of a 3 piece track geometry test train. The ELEM 33.00 contains a power generator in the front (long) hood, several banks of computer equipment in the cab, and a very, very cold AC unit. What makes it truly unique is the equipment, it is kitted out with an Applanix POS (Position and Orientation System) cameras and vehicle-mounted terrestrial laser scanners, visible under the cab on the bogie. Used for deformation monitoring in track geometry, integrated through Trimble GPS and it has all the bells and whistles. This unit is towed, while the engineering crew rides in another specialy modified vehicle behind.
Good job in hunting down it’s identity!
Where my MOW data sheet on the all in one rail layer - ballast tamper etc…I think Plasser???
Need the sizes and all…please. or any MOW unit used on track. Give you a penny?
Toad