What the heck is going on here?

[fieryturbo]

So I decided on one side of my layout, among other things, I would model an ADM grain elevator, and a corn transload like that of Andy Sperandeo.  When researching ADM, I ran across photos of this hilarious GP9.

Having a CP GP9 sitting in a box doing nothing, I think I'm going to try modeling this rather odd looking loco as a switcher, even though it's out of my preferred era.

But what's going on here? I see a ladder, and what appear to be some building lights bolted on to the top in a rainbow of colors, and a snow plow?

I've never seen the rounded roof used to so comical an effect.  It looks like a distressed porcupine.

It appears to still live in Clinton, IA.  Can anyone explain how it got to look like that?

[gmpullman]

It seems as though this locomotive is set up for remote-control operation. The engine was a former Grand Trunk, then C-V loco with the same number.

Judging by the two boxes, they are using this system:

http://www.cattron.com/dnn/Portals/0/pdf/brochures/QC.pdf

It looks like there is additional air lines there which may be used for air-operated car unloading systems. Electrically, this system seems to wire into the AAR M-U system. Pretty clever and economical. 

Here's a shot of the pair from the other end with the "engineer" on the ground with the control box.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=706710

The electricians probably left the step ladder there for convenience. We could never get the electricians to return step ladders where I worked, either 

Ed

[mbinsewi]

We've seen that end before in here.  One of young members was going to build it.

Mike.

[dbduck]

I am thinking that the various lights on the cab roof would let the operator on the ground know the status of the loco such as "forward/reverse" etc

another pic...   http://www.railpictures.net/photo/523506/

[hon30critter]

gmpullman

Here's a shot of the pair from the other end with the "engineer" on the ground with the control box. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=706710

I love the 'picture window' on the second unit! Question is, why? What purpose was served by putting such a large window into the cab?

dbduck:

Great picture! I noticed that the step ladder is still there. It is lying on the top of the nose.

Dave

[fourt]

I  belive there other unit is even more funney looking. has what looks like a sw1500 cab or something like that on the frount.  And i see the link for it on second post now lol.

 I see them all the time in Clinton Iowa. When i drive by there.