http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnfladung/2575580681/

I admit, I used to think yard slugs were providing HP assistance to other locomotives but looking in a Robert Del Grosso BNSF book they are listed as having no prime mover, or HP, yet they have traction motors and gears?

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John Fladung
Saint Paul, MN

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The railfan side

My pictures

there purpose is to add tractive effort to the "mother" unit that is powering them. they use electricity from the "mother" unit and you effectively have a 12 axle locomotive with only one prime mover and generator. the slaves are just axles, motors and control electronics.

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A BNSF fan by default.

Most of them have weight added to them for more traction, for heavy drag service or slow hump service. You can see BNSF with them at Northtown on the hump.

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Taylor P.
Lake Elmo, MN
Route of the "400"

my train pictures.

If I remember right the Soo Line fuel tenders were fuel tender/slugs. A great idea except their issue was as they went through fuel they got lighter and had less tractive effort. Still I think it was a cool idea though.

I wonder too why they are not used by class three and shortline railroads. Yard slugs use excess electricity from the mother locomotive for tractive effort. Is there a speed in which they cut out?

How about road slugs? TCWR has one. What application are they best used?

Trains Magazine said the slugs are not popular anymore as railroads prefer cabs in each locomotive in case one breaks or goes off line in use.

Any other thoughts? Insights?

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