What is this?

[smash]

While looking for some info on the Great Northern W1 I ran across this photo.
Does anybody have any idea what it is used for?
http://www.gngoat.org/gn2326.jpg
From this webpage.
http://www.gngoat.org/gn_archives2.htm

Kenny

Edit about the only other photo's I have found are here.
http://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/...W-R-GN-Great-Northern-Brill-Gas-Electric-Vs-2

 

[Euphod]

GN 2326 "Doodlebug" unknown date/unknown location. Photo by Chuck Dayley.
Update: From January 18, 2010 email:

"...Chuck Dayley's photo is at the GN depot in downtown Grand Forks. The depot roof has been modernized and the clock tower is gone, so the year is probably no earlier than 1955. Most gas electric branch line passenger trains were removed in the late 50s. My guess is that it is the Hannah Line passenger train, but I am not certain of that. I'll try to get more info."

Jim Chinquist

All I can find out is the rest of the information on the page.

 

[magickmaker]

This is a Brill baggage mail railcar built for the GN. The odd plow on the front was added after construction by GN. This was due in no small part to the fact that the train had a severe traction issue on its power truck (the front one) due to weight. This problem was aggravated by snow, hence making the need for an aggressive plow. Most early railcars had this type of problem though since they usually didn't operate in heavy snow areas, the issue wasn't that much of a problem to work out.

This unit was part of a series of 5 similar cars (the roof designs varied somewhat) built in 1928. They were withdrawn between 1955 and 1959.

Unlike most railcars, these locomotives (2326, 2327, 2328, 2329, 2330) were not purchased with matching railcar trailers. Instead they operated with one or two standard four axle coaches, as can be seen in this picture. Due to the fact they only had a cab at one end, the railcars required turning at the end of their runs on the turntables, making use of them VERY limited. Later railcars, would also suffer this issue, though interestingly enough many of them saw service at the head of "mixed" freights with the railcar taking the place of the coach AND the locomotive of such a train.

(see link for photo evidence of one such mixed freight)
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/gn2341.jpg

 

[smash]

Thanks magicmaker and Euphod.
Kenny