I was in Cleveland Oh, today and I spotted a Norfolk Southern sitting on the tracks by the highway and there was a locomotive sitting there (sorry @ 70 mph I could not ID it) but there was this thing right behind it that looked like a Locomotive but with no cab and was much shorter and possibly not as long as the lead Loco. What was this thing?[?]
Probably a “slug”. It is a unit that has no diesel engine in it but gets power from an adjoining unit. It allows yard engines and slower speed trains to use the full available power of one unit to operate two units worth of traction motors, essentially doubling the low speed pulling and braking power of the powered unit.
Dave H.
Check out this link. If it looked like one of these suspects. I venture to guess you saw a slug.
yup thats what it was! I am new to this and that is my very first Slug sighting. I also have seen my very first up close look at a RoadRailer too. Far better sightings on the NS then the CSX that runs by the house. Thanks Guys.