Slugs?!
- Thread starter ish6
- Start date
Oh yes, don't get confused with "B" units. "B" units are fully functioning diesel electric locomotives that do not have a standard cab. They have minimal operating controls in a panel to allow movements in the depot and can move under their own power but are built to be used in multiple with cab fitted locos.
Slugs are two loco bogies with traction motors but no diesel engine to power them. The body is used merely to conceal large concrete blocks that provide weight for adhesion. The slug is coupled to a conventional diesel electric loco with the addition of an extra cable that takes power from the diesel generator of the main loco to feed to the traction motors of the slug. The diesel electric loco still puts out the same power but instead of being a Bo-Bo (for example) it becomes a Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo (if you can follow what I'm getting at). Because there are more traction motors and more wheels on the rails they are more sure-footed and useful for moving big heavy rakes (cuts) around the yard. By itself a slug is completely inert and immobile; it cannot move by itself.
The slugs in TRS do not add any power to the loco consist at all but they are more than just a wagon as they lock the maximum speed to a very low figure.
Here endeth the lesson...
Cheers
Nix
Slugs are two loco bogies with traction motors but no diesel engine to power them. The body is used merely to conceal large concrete blocks that provide weight for adhesion. The slug is coupled to a conventional diesel electric loco with the addition of an extra cable that takes power from the diesel generator of the main loco to feed to the traction motors of the slug. The diesel electric loco still puts out the same power but instead of being a Bo-Bo (for example) it becomes a Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo (if you can follow what I'm getting at). Because there are more traction motors and more wheels on the rails they are more sure-footed and useful for moving big heavy rakes (cuts) around the yard. By itself a slug is completely inert and immobile; it cannot move by itself.
The slugs in TRS do not add any power to the loco consist at all but they are more than just a wagon as they lock the maximum speed to a very low figure.
Here endeth the lesson...
Cheers
Nix
trainzmainiac2006
T.C.S. Chairman
kuid please?
john
john
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Enough?
Enjoy but don't expect high speed workouts.
Cheers
Nix
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Enough?
Enjoy but don't expect high speed workouts.
Cheers
Nix
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trainzmainiac2006
T.C.S. Chairman
thank you, i wont
john
john
CSXTs roadmates cut out at about 30 mph, there engine blocks replaced by a slab of concrete. They also have the capability to hold and transfer fuel on demand for the mother. I loved them for local service on a road switcher, since it made for a quiet ride while it was leading.
trainzmainiac2006
T.C.S. Chairman
by the way, the slugs only go 8 mph by themselves. with a loco, they can go a lot faster.
(They are designed to work with a locomotive.)
john
(They are designed to work with a locomotive.)
john
Harry_James_Potter
General Thrash
Or alternatively,they are slimy little pests that eat all your flowers and, as such,are absolutely no use whatsoever
cheers
Roy
lets bring some humour back to the forum.
Or they're the test bed re-engined class 37s with either a Mirrlees 6-Cyl lump or a 6 Cyl Ruston Paxman lump. Known as slugs for their slow buildup of power...
regards
Harry
In the real world they are only used in larger yards, or on short (low speed) hauls. For pulling freights on the main line, they are a liability. In a yard (as described above) they add tractive effort to start and stop a train without the additional expense of an extra prime mover (desiel engine) because the one prime mover can supply enough power for the traction moters of both units. On the main line (at speed) all of the power from the prime mover can be utilized by the traction units on its own engine, causing the slug to become dead weight that has to be pulled along.
Most of CloakedGhosts slugs use his enginespec 76096:526 which has very little power. I ran it by itself and could only get about 10mph out of it. The config.txt file for the enginespec shows throttle position 8 starts at only 294 @ 0 and drops to 0 @ 4.5. I switched the enginespec to the same as a GP38 or SD40-2 and then it goes like a regular engine. I did a test comparing the performance pulling a 3000 ton consist with three SD40-2 locos vs one SD40-2 with two modified slugs and got the same results.
Bob
Bob
hogger1961
New member
Ask a question, get lots of info. Here is a little more.
Slugs are not limited to yard duty. Some are used as road slugs. They are coupled to the mother unit but are unpowered until extra force is needed, at which point the loco driver feeds the slug power until he is once again rolling. Then its unpowered again. This is more economical than sending extra locomotives that may only be needed to get the train moving. Some road slugs are built in the railroads shops, but some are purpose built for this type of use. General Electric builds them from scratch, and calls them "MATES". (Motor to Assist Tractive Effort). Or something to that effect. I dont know that road slugs would be much use in hilly terrain since extra locomotives are required anyway.
In addition to helping start a train, slugs add braking force as well. This extra force reduces shunting time since the loco driver can use a bit more speed without excess wheel slide and stopping distance. In a case where the railroad needs more brakes but doesn't need the starting force, the motors and other associated electrical equipment is removed (for use elsewhere) and the brake equipment is kept intact. The result is called a "sled". Alternatively, filling an old gondola car with cement make a good sled as well. I've seen it done.........
If you get some spare time, get on the 'net and type "locomotives" in your search engine. There is a ton of cool stuff there. Happy reading! Cheers, Ray
Slugs are not limited to yard duty. Some are used as road slugs. They are coupled to the mother unit but are unpowered until extra force is needed, at which point the loco driver feeds the slug power until he is once again rolling. Then its unpowered again. This is more economical than sending extra locomotives that may only be needed to get the train moving. Some road slugs are built in the railroads shops, but some are purpose built for this type of use. General Electric builds them from scratch, and calls them "MATES". (Motor to Assist Tractive Effort). Or something to that effect. I dont know that road slugs would be much use in hilly terrain since extra locomotives are required anyway.
In addition to helping start a train, slugs add braking force as well. This extra force reduces shunting time since the loco driver can use a bit more speed without excess wheel slide and stopping distance. In a case where the railroad needs more brakes but doesn't need the starting force, the motors and other associated electrical equipment is removed (for use elsewhere) and the brake equipment is kept intact. The result is called a "sled". Alternatively, filling an old gondola car with cement make a good sled as well. I've seen it done.........
If you get some spare time, get on the 'net and type "locomotives" in your search engine. There is a ton of cool stuff there. Happy reading! Cheers, Ray
Harry_James_Potter
General Thrash
The closest that we came to a Slug (US meaning) was an Ethel.
These were locos that were converted to provide train-heat only and ran in the 70s and 80s to provide electric train heat to trains in scotland that ran behind steam-heat only locos.
regards
Harry
These were locos that were converted to provide train-heat only and ran in the 70s and 80s to provide electric train heat to trains in scotland that ran behind steam-heat only locos.
regards
Harry
We also had two more nearly-slugs: braking tender (a kind of reverse-slug), and on hills we used banking locos (not exactly a slug, but useful with a heavy train).
Harry_James_Potter
General Thrash
braking tender (uk parlance) would be a sled (US parlance) and a banking loco here would be a Helper over there...
The only slugs we have are the 37/9s.
regards
Harry
WileeCoyote
Eatibus Almost Anythingus
Who in their right mind would name a sort of "helper engine" after an ugly, slimy, flower ruining, disgusting, bad tasting thing that no one would ever want in their garden? Of the train form of slugs here in Germany I do not know of any, mostly if you want to move a load bigger than your switcher can handle you just get a more powerful engine like a V90.
WileeCoyote
WileeCoyote
Yes, everybody beat me to it,
basic defintion: A slug is an Un-powered unit behind a 'mother locomotive' drawing power from the mother locomotive to run it's traction motors.
Also, another kind of slug, was the GP-60's that the SF had, i think those were slugs anyway.
Slugs that were patched with a SW-7/9/12/15 etc. were commonly called a 'Cow(the SW unit) and the Calf(the Slug unit)
But, that is the first definition of a slug the other?
a Slimy Disgusting creature that god placed on earth for people like me to tourture with salt and BB. guns.
LOL.
basic defintion: A slug is an Un-powered unit behind a 'mother locomotive' drawing power from the mother locomotive to run it's traction motors.
Also, another kind of slug, was the GP-60's that the SF had, i think those were slugs anyway.
Slugs that were patched with a SW-7/9/12/15 etc. were commonly called a 'Cow(the SW unit) and the Calf(the Slug unit)
But, that is the first definition of a slug the other?
a Slimy Disgusting creature that god placed on earth for people like me to tourture with salt and BB. guns.
LOL.
WileeCoyote
Eatibus Almost Anythingus
Perhaps someone can benefit from this thread ....
Ish
Ah yes but how? So far I have found only two things, 1. slugs are unpowered helper engines that draw power off of a main engine, and 2. they are slimy disgusting things creeping over my flowers and garden railway that still don't taste good. Seriously, fry them in garlic oil or salt them they still taste pretty bad, and if you use too much salt they shrivel up and aren't at all juicy. That or I run them over with my bicycle
.WileeCoyote
