Please tell me what this was?

[Anonymous]

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?

Hey Tstage was in your area lots of loco action in Cleveland got my first up close look at a Roadrailer. Now I neew a bigger basement so I can run a full load of them.

[tstage]

polizi,

Hey! How have you been? I thought about you again today as I was crossing the 152nd bridge over the Collinwood CSX tracks. I thought to myself, "Man, I haven't seen polizi on the forum in a long time." And, here you are. [:)]

I'm glad that you were able to make it up here and get some railfanning in. There is ALWAYS something happening whenever I drive over the bridge. One of these days I'm going to have to park my car and stand at the top of the 152nd Street bridge and just watch trains for a while. I guess if you were able to get up close to the Roadrailer, you must have been able to walk around the yard? Did you approach anyone to ask if it was okay?

polizi, good to hear from you!

Tom

[Anonymous]

Well it good to hear from you too Tom.. I was up there for the H&G show at the IX center but was able to do a little driving around first. I was at a rail crossing first car in line and this NS consist was going by with what seamed like a mile of Roadrailer on it man it was cool. That yard at 152nd is that the little yard right next to I480? I was also by the yard NS has down by Macedonia that wher I got a look at the funny engine. A guy on the Trains forum told me it is a slug. Its the first one I have ever seen.

Will
AKA Polizi

[Anonymous]

I'd guess what you saw was probably a Slug - basically a frame and trucks with traction motors that's coupled to a powered loco to increase tractive effort. Most diesels produce more power than they can put on the rails at low speed, so the slug allows them to use the extra power without slipping. They're usually converted from old locos with the power unit removed and sometimes the cab, concrete or steel ballast is added to make up the weight. I've seen photos of examples based on switcher frames where they basically cut the bodywork off completely then built a simple low "hood" assembly over where the bodyshell was to cover the ballast weight, popular for yard work and on some shortlines. A good use for those old Mehano/Model Power switchers you see sometimes!

[Eriediamond]

Yup, a slug!!!

[tstage]

Will,

No, the Collinwood tracks are on the north side of town, off of I-90/SR 2, along the Shoreway. From downtown, you hop on the interbelt, head out I-90 E and get off at the E. 152nd Street exit - Turn R. The bridge over the tracks is about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of a mile further. (Pretty obvioius.) Always some action. It's definitely worth a look.

Tom

[trolleyboy]

Most likely a slug. To bad you didn't get a relly good look at it the old Southern used to chop down alcos and make homemade sllugs and you could sometimes tell what they used to be ie type of truck or end notches still on the chopped car body'alot of railroads bought brand new purpose built slugs as well but they usually just look like a box with trucks not as exciting to look at. TB

[Anonymous]

thanks for the info it really was a unique piece of equiptment for me to see. I think I will buy a generic engine and crop it and make my own. Thanks for the heads up on the Collinwood yard Tom. What yard was I looking at? Me and the camera will have to go Rail fanning up in your area soo as the weather keeps nice so much action compared to my little 2 track main going by here mmostly CSXT with the rare Wheeling & Lake Erie sometimes in kent I can catch a Rio Grande but its rare. Amtrak even shows up from time to time usually running late. You guys are the best reference anyone could ever hope to find.