Author Topic: . (Read 11713 times)

Chris333 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2007, 12:27:41 AM »

Ed Kapuscinski · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2007, 12:46:21 AM »

CSX has turned a bunch of old GP30 and 35s into "RMDT"s, basically road slugs, with lots of ballast and some cabs.

They work out well, I suppose, since we see them everywhere.

Its a good way to spread the 3000 horses in a GP40-2 out for low speed service.

MrKLUKE · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2007, 12:54:04 AM »

Chris333 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2007, 02:06:17 AM »

A slug is just traction motors on the trucks and a heavy body. It's trucks are powered by whatever unit it's coupled too.

Think they are used mostly for switching.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug_(railroad)

There are a couple extra links about that are GP30's, but not slugs. They were to show the lift rings someone else asked about.

The Donkey · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2007, 09:43:03 AM »

Here's a few pics of a couple I caught last summer-they're a lot crappier
than I thought, & some partials, but at least they're something.

http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=395526
http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=395523
http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=395513
http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=460627
http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=460629
http://donkey.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=369055

Chris is right about the switching part-seems they use them for the
local freights on the New Castle sub. I never knew they were slugs
until I entered the pics on the site the 1st time, just figured they
were GP30s.

Ed Kapuscinski · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2007, 10:07:17 AM »

These have had their "guts" removed (engine, generator, etc) and replaced with concrete for ballast.

The traction motors are then connected to the "mother" unit, which can put out more electricity than they can use at low speeds, but by spreading it out over four more motors, more can be used.

Once the set gets up to a certain speed, I believe the slug then cuts out.

Most slugs that I've come across don't have cabs, as they're mostly yard units (like Conrail's MT4s and MT6s http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/misc/slug/slug.html and http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/misc/slug/slugproto.html), however the CSX units were designed to be used on locals and road trains, so these road slugs retained their cabs and control equipment (so they can control other units like a normal engine).

The access doors were all closed up because nobody needs to get to the block of concrete (or whatever they use to ballast them). They still have a few access doors for crews to get to various pieces of equipment (I'm guessing sanding, dynamic brake and MU stuff).

I really like these things, since they give us some variety compared to the look-alike widecabs.

asciibaron · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2007, 02:35:29 PM »

CSX uses the GP30 "slugs" for local service. the Hancock sand job, the Millville Rock Runner, and the Winchester local out of Brunswick use the mother-slug units. most yard switching is done with regeared SD40-2's or even SD50's (Jessup Ramps) glad to see the GP30 carbodies still around - they are very pleasing in this world of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" styled cabs...

-steve

MrKLUKE · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2007, 06:07:20 PM »

Chris333 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2007, 06:19:07 PM »

There are a few doors left over on the long hood so check out photo's of both sides.

Ed Kapuscinski · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:21:21 PM »

And don't forget the GP40-2s to go with them, and make sure they're not ex-Cons, since those all came to the property AFTER the conversion program, and as a result aren't set up to be "mothers".

MrKLUKE · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:30:52 PM »

MrKLUKE · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:33:04 PM »

Ed Kapuscinski · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:51:43 PM »

I think they're semi-permanantly coupled up, I don't think they change them around much, especially since the GP40-2 (I'm pretty sure it's ALWAYS a GP40-2) has to be specially configured (to provide power to the slugs, and possibly suck from their fuel tanks). It looks like they all fall in the 6400 series (from the photos I've seen tonight).

By ex-Cons I mean ex-Conrail units. The slug program was done before CSX got a hold of Conrail, so all of the GP40-2s that are mated to the RMDTs are from the original CSX (Chessie, Seabord, etc) pool.

Here are some photos:
http://www.locophotos.com/Search.php?SearchRoadID=53&SearchLocoID=&SearchModel=EMD+RDSLUG%2FRDMATE&SearchSerialNumber=&SearchFrameNumber=&SearchLineage=&SearchNotes=&SearchUserID=&SearchCity=&SearchState=&Order=&Search=Search
http://gelwood.railfan.net/csx/csx-200.html

Glad to help.

Ed Kapuscinski · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:56:09 PM »

After looking at this, I really doubt they get swapped too frequently unless being down for work.

http://gelwood.railfan.net/csx/csx2232ewc.jpg

Author Topic: . (Read 11713 times)

MrKLUKE

.

Chris333

Re: CSX GP30

Ed Kapuscinski

Re: CSX GP30

MrKLUKE

.

Chris333

Re: CSX GP30

The Donkey

Re: CSX GP30

Ed Kapuscinski

Re: CSX GP30

asciibaron

Re: CSX GP30

MrKLUKE

.

Chris333

Re: CSX GP30

Ed Kapuscinski

Re: CSX GP30

MrKLUKE

.

MrKLUKE

.

Ed Kapuscinski

Re: CSX GP30

Ed Kapuscinski

Re: CSX GP30