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BNSF Slug?

Started by MasterChief 20 posts 7 min read

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MasterChiefMember since Jul-12-02 · 440 posts

A couple of weeks ago I was driving accross Arizona, passing through Holbrook. I spied a long freight passing the opposite direction with two solid black locomotives. I was so intent on trying to identify the black locos (and not driving off the interstate at the same time), that I wasn't paying any attention to the rest of the train. Just as I was about to give up (and as the locos were getting further and further away), I quickly glanced at the other locomotives. I saw what looked like an orange and black BNSF "slug" type locomotive. I looked again, but was too far away to see if that is what I really saw.Does the BNSF use these types of locomotives? I've looked thru the library here, but didn't see any models.Thanks,MC

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RE: BNSF Slug?, NewEnglandRailFan, Jun-12-04, 06:10 PM, (1) RE: BNSF Slug?, railfan4ever, Jun-12-04, 06:17 PM, (2) RE: BNSF Slug?, railfan4ever, Jun-12-04, 06:27 PM, (4) RE: BNSF Slug?, NewEnglandRailFan, Jun-12-04, 09:34 PM, (5) RE: BNSF Slug?, railfan4ever, Jun-13-04, 10:15 AM, (7) RE: BNSF Slug?, BNSF_Clovis, Jun-12-04, 06:26 PM, (3) RE: BNSF Slug?, MasterChief, Jun-13-04, 10:02 AM, (6) RE: BNSF Slug?, Erick_Cantu, Jun-13-04, 01:48 PM, (8) RE: BNSF Slug?, railfan4ever, Jun-13-04, 02:46 PM, (9) RE: BNSF Slug?, andykeffer, Jun-13-04, 07:53 PM, (10) RE: BNSF Slug?, BNSF_Clovis, Jun-13-04, 08:08 PM, (11) RE: BNSF Slug?, calr, Jun-13-04, 09:37 PM, (12) RE: BNSF Slug?, railfan4ever, Jun-14-04, 09:44 AM, (13) RE: BNSF Slug?, Magick_maker, Jun-14-04, 02:41 PM, (14) RE: BNSF Slug?, jtsdadinaz, Jun-14-04, 03:33 PM, (15) RE: BNSF Slug?, MasterChief, Jun-14-04, 04:53 PM, (16) RE: BNSF Slug?, jtsdadinaz, Jun-14-04, 10:36 PM, (17) RE: BNSF Slug?, BNSF_Clovis, Jun-14-04, 10:58 PM, (18) RE: BNSF Slug?, MasterChief, Jun-15-04, 00:28 AM, (19)

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NewEnglandRailFanMember since Mar-16-04 · 214 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

As far as I have heard, both BN and SF had slugs and BNSF still does-Dave

'Friends don't let friends drive imports'

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NewEnglandRailFanMember since Mar-16-04 · 214 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

Hey what sites are those shots from? Is that a BNSF roster page?-Dave

'Friends don't let friends drive imports'

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BNSF_ClovisMember since Aug-23-03 · 57 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

LAST EDITED ON Jun-12-04 AT 06:49 PM (EDT)

If the number was a BNSF 6210 it is indeed a slug. For some reason the gods of the power desk have seen to fit to regularly assign that piece of junk to Clovis. For what we do here, it is not good power. It won't load, and it won't stop. One night we were dragging out a good 100 car Q train to the new R&D track, going run 8 and barely making 6 mph. But we do indeed use the slugs. Normally they would be assigned to a hump yard where the low speed and high tractive effort could be put to good use. I tried one day to kick with that unit, the results were less than amazing.
Chris S.
BNSF Conductor

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Erick_CantuMember since Jan-25-04 · 151 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

BNSF Slug? – image 3

What purpose to slugs serve? What are they? Neo-B units?BNSF Slug? – image 4"The Genesis and the F59PHI are the lamest locomotives Amtrak has ever operated. Accept it and move on. Hug an F40."

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railfan4everMember since Apr-7-04 · 163 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

They're basically concrete wieght on wheels. They have traction motors on them, but no engine. They recieve their power form the "master" locomotive, the slug being a "slave". One common BNSF combo: SD39 master, slug slave.

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BNSF_ClovisMember since Aug-23-03 · 57 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

Basically with that extra weight and traction motors they help to increase tractive effort without increasing the overall horsepower. It's good for low speed operations such as hump switching. It, however, is not good for dragging out 100 car Q trains.
Chris S.
BNSF Conductor

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calrCharter Member · 3687 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

BNSF Slug? – image 5

It looks like there is a fuel tank on board. Does it hold reserve fuel for the loco or is it filled with concrete or other ballast?Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- Started)

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Magick_makerMember since Apr-15-03 · 1228 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

Looks like there might be fuel in it actually. There's a recent spill around the fuel cap and what looks to be a rather heavy pipe running from the slug to the parent loco.

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jtsdadinazCharter Member · 535 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

More than likely what he saw was one or more of the B units. Seen one here in phoenix about a week or so back on an eastbound with a Santa Fe marking and it was dark blue.

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MasterChiefMember since Jul-12-02 · 440 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

B Units? Didn't know there were B Units except for the old F7s. Makes sense, though, the photos of the slugs posted here appear to be long and short, where the unit I (thought) I saw was of similar size of the locomotives. But this one was definitely painted the BNSF orange (and green).MC

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BNSF_ClovisMember since Aug-23-03 · 57 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

On the slug we had here in Clovis there was absolutely no provision for using the tank of the slug as a fuel tender. Now that was just the 6210/3975 combination. What you might be seeing is the 2nd MU cable that runs between the units. That slug we had, had two MU cables. One was a power providing cable and the other was the standard MU cable. As far as B units are concerned BNSF owns a few. There are the old SD45-2B's and there are the GP60B's. I believe the 60B's are in the 300 series but don't quote me on that.
Chris S.
BNSF Conductor

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MasterChiefMember since Jul-12-02 · 440 posts

RE: BNSF Slug?

By golly, that was it! Checked out the photos on the link, that was the animal! Thanks - you learn something new every day.MC

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