slugs

[Anonymous]

I know somebody somewhere has built a slug and I was wondering if I could get some tips.I currently model Canadian National in the present day era and would like to try to build one from a gp-9 body.Any tips would be great.Thanks

[ShaunCN]

I model canadian national too. Try and get as many different pictures of the slugs before you start to build one. Looking at different pictures will tell you where you need to make cuts on the GP 9 body . I would cut the GP 9 body in half make a smoth roof fro it then sand of the hood doors. Maybe someone else can help you more

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised nobody's made a kit or RTR slug. There must have been some purpose-built ones that were bought by more than one road? Could be an interesting product for one of the manufacturers to tool up - could do both powered (if a motor could be crammed in) and dummy versions. I'd be looking for one of the old-type slugs which looked a little like an SW7 but with very little above the frames - just a low, long hood-type structure, presumably holding ballast weights? Would be something a little different to run with my Athearn SW7s, or a talking point parked in a siding.

[ShaunCN]

I have built a slug out of a athearn SW7. I cut down the hood lowered the roof.9took off stacks and details.) Then removed the cab and covered that up to. It is a dummy that runs with my Athearn Sw7. only problem is it makes the powered unit work harder as it now has to pull around the slug wich has a metal underframe making it heavy.

[ndbprr]

If you want to go the easy route just blank off the windows and retain the entire carbody. It has been done before by the real thing. Most slugs are cut down to increase visiblity but it doesn't have to be done that way.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

There must have been some purpose-built ones that were bought by more than one road?

No, there are not. The only purpose built new ones that I know of were built be GE for SCL to go with U36B in phosphate service. They ran U36B-slub-U36B, equivalent to two U36C or SD45 locomotives, but able to go on the rougher, tighter track.

The N&W built a bunch; ones from FM TM, Alco RSD12, SD35, SDP45, GP9/18..

Southern had some homebuilts, most on AAR A trucks for switching.

And there many others.....

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr

If you want to go the easy route just blank off the windows and retain the entire carbody. It has been done before by the real thing. Most slugs are cut down to increase visiblity but it doesn't have to be done that way.

CSX has slugs built from former GP30 locos. They retained thier cabs and are a favorite amoung crews due to being so quiet (no engine). They also have the cooling fans removed, I believe that some or all retained thier dynamic brakes, and they have fuel tanks to serve as tenders for the "mothers".

[Anonymous]

KCS built several slugs from F units. They had their prime movers removed but retained the F unit carbodies. KCS bought several GP40-2s to serve as "mothers". They were used quite a bit on a coal train which ran from near Sulphur Springs, Texas to a power plant near Mt. Pleasant. I occasionally would see a slug on a general merchandise train.

[Anonymous]

Was there any particular loco that was preferred for conversion to a slug, or was it a case of using whatever old locos were available? Also, do locos need any extra MU cabling to work with a slug? I'm unsure as to how the MU equipment works on US locos.

[Anonymous]

Generally any surplus locomotive that was electrically sound could become a slug.
Southern Pacific had several varieties for purpose specific jobs.

EMD yard slugs built from retired switchers.
http://espee.railfan.net/sp4xslug.html
These have very generic lines (possibly what Railroading Brit is interested in?)

GE "TEBUs" (Tractive Effort Booster Unit) were essentialy the same as SCL "MATES"
http://espee.railfan.net/sptebu.html
Full SP light packages allowed them to be "legally" on the end of a train on the mainline.

Fairbanks Morse Trainmaster became a "Brake Sled"
http://espee.railfan.net/spmw/sp_brake-sleds.html
Basically just an extra 12 brake shoes. .

ALCo C628 and C630 units were cut down to heavy yard slugs.
http://espee.railfan.net/sp6xslug.html
These were always paired with SD38-2 units specially built to mate with them

Rotary snowplow "Snails"
http://espee.railfan.net/spmw/sp_snails.html
A prime mover in a shell. All electrical was routed to the snowplow.

Perhaps not identified as a slug then...
http://espee.railfan.net/spmw/sp-camera_car.html
a locomotive shell that can control a trailing consist like many slugs today.
Perhaps more than you ever wanted to know...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TiVoPrince

[b]Generally any surplus locomotive that was electrically sound could become a slug.
Southern Pacific had several varieties for purpose specific jobs.

EMD yard slugs built from retired switchers.
http://espee.railfan.net/sp4xslug.html
These have very generic lines (possibly what Railroading Brit is interested in?)

That's the one - or at least, something like it. I found a few photos of something similar a while ago but have unfortunately forgotten the web address - might well have been www.oldnyc.com but that site seems to be having trouble at the moment so I can't check it - would have been on their New York Cross-Harbour RR tour. I'll have to look for an Athearn unpainted dummy SW7 calf to modify - couldn't bring myself to hack up a painted example! Thanks for the advice!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the sw7 idea that should work great all the work is almost done and the dummy units are pretty cheap.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

Was there any particular loco that was preferred for conversion to a slug, or was it a case of using whatever old locos were available? Also, do locos need any extra MU cabling to work with a slug? I'm unsure as to how the MU equipment works on US locos.

Slugs don't need MU connections to control them, they get power directly from the "mother". Road slugs will have MU connections so that locomotives either side of them can be controlled, or in the case to fhe ones with functional cabs, to be able to control the "mother" and other locomotives.

[Anonymous]

i believe it was as little as 3 years ago
that csx was still using a gp35 as a slug