Why are some locomotives referred to as slugs ?
No engine, only traction motors.
Traction motors are powered through MU connections from a mother unit (regular loco).
Slugs are basically like a B-unit only with no engine just traction motors. In 1978 Conrail converted some of their old Alco RS11, RSD12, and RSD15s into slugs.They chopped off the roofs and aded EMD style blomberg trucks. They were paired with SD-38s and used in hump service near Allentown, PA.
I’m sure other roads have built similar engines but these are the ones I’m most familiar with. I’ve also seen some used by CSX a while before the buyout of Conrail.
This article on conrail cyclopedia can explain it much better than I can.
http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/misc/slug/slugproto.html
The New Haven had one in the early 1950’s mated with an ALCO S unit - the slug was made from an old old electric loco.
Thanx ! That’s what I figured, but I keep seeing references to slugs when I see pictures of GP30’s ( CSX as an example ) & yet I just didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I model Conrail & CSX in N scale.
NS has some interesting road slugs too. These are cut down GP units that have dynamic brakes on them. They are used between a pair of GP40s to get the same output as a pair of SD40s. Here is a link to a photo of one:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=172790
This link will get you the whole page of phot links:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=NS
This class of slugs is numbered 913-964, there are some other slugs on this page too. Good luck and enjoy!
WOW! I lived in Columbus Oh by a NS yard. I always woundered what those chop top units were that worked the hump. Do you mean they don’t have a deisel motor in them and they draw their electric from the main loco through the MU lines?
Loather, Thats correct.
The low hoods in part cover large concrete blocks used for ballast (weight).
Slug at work…
Slug should not be confused with the old term “cow and calf”. If I’m not mistaken a calf has a prime mover of it’s own, but no cab or controls. The slug, as stated prevously, has only traction motors and weight.
CSX has Road Slugs (ie the GP30 birdogman mentioned). While they have no diesel engine, they do have compete cabs, and road trucks, and can operate at main line speed. In Philadelphia, we use them on local jobs, and out toward Cumberland, they are used in helper service. The slugs can operate easily in either direction (cab on both ends), because running backward is pain. They can also run at track speed (it is classifed as two locomotives), because a single light unit is restricted to 30mph (due to crossing warning circuits).
Nick
First, a thread on “Live or Dead Frogs.”
Now slugs.
What’s next?
[(-D]
Mike Tennent