B&O Slug
B&O Slug...
Now here is a little project that you will want to wait
to do. This is a SERIOUS modeling project that will take some time
to complete. The B&O made two slugs out of two old GP9s.
A slug is a neat little piece of machinery that increases the efficiency
of a slow moving locomotive. At slow speeds a diesel locomotive makes
more electricity than the traction motors can handle. The excess
power is routed to the slug, where it powers the four traction motors on
it. The Western Maryland started this concept with their two slugs,
138T and 139T. When they came under B&O control, the B&O
thought it was a good idea and made two of their own, also numbered 138T
and 139T. The C&O also liked the idea and made 140T-150T.
The C&O units are a little different than the B&O ones, so this
is a project to make 139T, the B&Os last slug. 139T is still
out there working today for CSX. It wears a CSX paint job and is
numbered 1063.
The C&O slugs were mated to GP39s, usually for good.
Some C&O slugs operated in pairs with a GP39. The B&O slugs
operated with a SD20-2. 139T was usually seen with 7704 or 7701.
The slow speed benefits of a slug were cancelled out above 10 mph or so
and the slugs were turned off. Most slugs were used in yard service
because of this.
Below is a Dean Heacock pic of 139T. Notice there
is no fuel tank between the trucks. A slug holds no fuel, it just
uses the electricity from the mother unit.
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