What is a Yard Slug and it's history?

[ish6]

Hey All --

What's a Yard Slug?

What's its' purposes?

Are they still in use today?

Why would they be use? ... when and where?

What kind of power does a Slug produces?

In my Desert Route there are dozens of yards, and I'm trying to see where a slug can fit?

Meaning, do Slugs are present in every yard?

Or specific yards?

Are slugs use elsewhere besides a trainz yard?

Do Slugs accompany locomotives across country?

What real-world company manufacture slugs?

etc?

Thanks for your feedback on this topic!

Ish

 

[MeowRailroad]

Most US engines operate by generating electricity with a diesel engine and then using that to power electric motors which drive the wheels. A slug has electric motors but no generator and is hooked up to another locomotive with a generator that provides electricity for it. This allows the set to have more pulling power at the cost of speed, so it's good for yards, locals, or drag freights. They are used today and are often made out of older engines that have been cut down or just had their generators removed, retaining the original carbody. By keeping the cab on the slug it allows them to operate the set in both directions, so these are good for locals.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Here is the cutest battery operated slug ... and it's bigger brother:

They are usually just traction motors on each axle, with no diesel engine block, nor electrical generator, or are ROCO (remote operating locomotives, akin to RC airplanes)

They are a slave to a diesel powered unit, and get their electrical energy from that powered unit, and operate in tandem with the commands from the diesel powered operating unit, via power cable hookups

If you have slugs in your garden leaving nightime slug trails, if you are sadistic you can pour salt on them and watch them disolve, or place used coffee grounds or sand in your garden permiter (as they can not slime over these granular products), or buy Ortho slug bait at Homeo' Depot ... slugs also like beer, and drown them selves in saucers placed in your garden, so I would buy el' cheepo' Meisterbrau or use footzball' party guests undwank' beerz !

 

[jkinzel]

I have a entire yard full of slugs.

Regards,

 

[blueodessey]

Awh where do you find this stuff, never seen such a compact Slug like Cascader's, who knew such things existed in the Rail World!

Made my day, except I have too many Real Nature Slugs eating my Plants :hehe:, at least the compact model looks like it handle some good Shunting Jobs.

Carry on!

 

[MeowRailroad]

The small one is basically a battery box on an old truck fitted with a coupler to move engines around a roundhouse/terminal area.

 

[blueodessey]

UP SLug pressed into service Tonight...

Thanks MeowRailroad,

Sounds like one of those Kit Bashed deals, and they would tell us, don't laugh! Bogey and Motor is paid for, it was headed out to the Scrapper had it not been for this new fangled idea someone cooked up........

Someone sure had an epiphany that week for sure.......Necessity is the Mother of Invention........

Update:

Forgot I had this in my inventory, so I assigned to move these Nice looking Tanker Cars by Sir Dave Snow........

 

[ATSF854]

If you have slugs in your garden leaving nightime slug trails, if you are sadistic you can pour salt on them and watch them disolve, or place used coffee grounds or sand in your garden permiter (as they can not slime over these granular products), or buy Ortho slug bait at Homo Depot ... slugs also like beer, and drown them selves in saucers placed in your garden, so I would buy el' cheepo' Meisterbrau or use guests undwank' beer

Do you know if I can get a long-distance restraining order?

 

[JCitron]

I knew the second Conrail slug was an Alco by the number boards...

Here's an interesting article on them from the CRHS.

http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/Locomotives/ALCo/Slugs

 

[Saieditor]

Thanks, John. That's a brilliant coverage of slugs.

 

[ish6]

Hello Everyone --

Thanks for your feedbacks -- :wave:


Ish

 

[DON49PLM]

I did some slugs awhile back including this one.

 

[ish6]

Hello Don --

Thanks for sharing, sir!!!

Your many slugs can be found across my desert route!!! :udrool:

Take Care
Ish

 

[ray_whiley]

A similar idea in the UK was the BR Class 13, two Class 08 diesel shunters permanently coupled together, one with the cab removed, and both ballasted for extra traction. Three units were used at the Tinsley marshalling yard for hump shunting, as a longer single locomotive would get stuck on the hump. I don't think that a model exists in Trainz, although there is a Class 08 - certainly was in TRS2004 days.

Ray

I was wrong - KUID 283805:13003

 

[MeowRailroad]

That's similar but in the US the most similar thing would be a Cow-Calf unit such as the TR5, it's basically a switcher with a cabless section semi-permanently.

 

[ish6]

Thanks for your feedback, Gentlemen,

Very informative!!!:udrool:

Ish

 

[cascaderailroad]

That's similar but in the US the most similar thing would be a Cow-Calf unit such as the TR5, it's basically a switcher with a cabless section semi-permanently.
http://www.american-rails.com/images/TR49624.jpg

I wish they had a cow/calf in Trainz

 

[JCitron]

I wish they had a cow/calf in Trainz

Jointed Rail has some. Here's one that I remembered.

http://jointedrail.com/product/midwest-grain-2-0-content-expansion-pack/

 

[RRSignal]

RRMods has a CSX GP38-2 mother-slug set as well, if you're an EMD fan. That JR set is great, too.

 

[ish6]

RRMods has a CSX GP38-2 mother-slug set as well, if you're an EMD fan. That JR set is great, too.

Thanks, RR, for the tip!!! :wave:

Ish