Posted by R. Shepard on December 17, 2006 | |
Being new to railroading, I need to ask what does this unit do?
|
Its basically an SD thats been chopped in half, weight added, and wiring made so that a mother unit (ie think an SD39 usually) can send power from its generators to the traction motors on this slug, while also powering its own traction motors. So in short, it uses power from another locomotive to run itself.
|
Yup, these BNSF slugs are mated up to sd-39's, there are 2 sets in service here at Northtown, MN. They are used as "hump" sets, the power from 1 engine spread out over 12 axles helps to prevent "burning up" the traction motors, as these hump sets push hard for long periods of time at very slow (1-1.8 MPH) speeds.
|
So this unit is used in a 'Humpyard'??
|
|