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small slugs Locos and rolling stock
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New member 17 posts kodachromeJohn New member 17 posts
kodachromeJohn

 I'm interested to find out if any railroads had or tested/experimented with single truck (presumably 3 axle) slugs. I have an obsession with B units, slugs, fuel tenders, etc. and the thought occurred to me last night that that might be the answer to a short line or yard that needed a little more oomph for some jobs. Just a question with maybe no answer.  Kodachrome  John   P.S. never posted a new topic before (does it show?) so any corrections needed by Mr. Fugate may be done as necessary. 
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,956 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Slugs and shop movers

Dear Koda,

Firstly, welcome to MRH! Settle in, take a browse around, and try throwing some of your fave RR terms in the Search Box at top right of this page, literally days of fun and useful info to be found...

Unsure about full-blown Slugs, but I'm aware of a number of home-bruise "shop switcher" units built on single ex-diesel trucks (Inc existing traction motors) and/or repurposed freight trucks...

(Some with batteries, some with small gens inboard, some running trailing-cable power)

Given the time/effort/$$$$$$ required to engineer a slug "properly" for truly useful low-speed drag work, (not to mention configuring the matching Mother units), I strongly suspect few serious RRs would skimp on the form factor...

Happy Modelling,

Aim to Improve,

Prof Klyzlr
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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,822 posts
David Husman dave1905

Slugs

Don't know of any single truck slugs.  

A single truck slug would kinda defeat the purpose of a slug, which is to add additional tractive effort.  A single truck slug would be so small that it wouldn't have enough weight to materially increase tractive effort.  On a regular slug they fill the "fuel tank" or hood with concrete to add weight.  On a single truck slug there wouldn't be enough room to do that and have a traction motor blower.

There may have been some electric engines that had a single truck "booster", well more of an additional powered underframe, rather than a "truck".

Dave Husman

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oldstuff Active Member 42 posts
oldstuff

slugs

Not US practice, but in the UK six 08 class 0-6-0 diesel shunters (UK for shifters) had matching slugs attached  for use in a hump yard at Tinsley, permanently coupled to become class 13  here (scroll down to see the locos). The 08 was (and remains) the standard diesel shunter on British Rail, though not so many needed as most freight runs in block trains, and most passenger stock is DMU and EMUs so no loose cars

 

Jon Price

Modelling trains running into Fort Dearborn just pre WW2 in H0
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Ronmsal78 Active Member 30 posts
Ronmsal78

Single Truck Slug

I remember seeing a single truck slug that is/was being used by Conrail/NS in the Altoona facility as a car and loco mover.  It was simply a Blomberg type B truck with a box for batteries on top and added controls.
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