BNSF Northtown yard in Minnesota

[jdando]

Went out this morning for a little trainspotting. Started out at the Northtown yard overpass. This location did not lend itself to the morning light.

#1


#2 Looking south I had a chain link fence


#3 Finally a locomotive with a nice paint job


#4 From St Anthony Parkway


#5 CP rail heading towards their yard


#6 There were about 40 locomotives sitting idle (2 rows of 20)


#7 From just north of the yard 2 and 1/2 locomotives (slug) working the hump



C&C appreciated

[strokedbeast]

What's the 1/2 locomotive for? Never seen one before.

[45689ajax]

Originally Posted by strokedbeast

What's the 1/2 locomotive for? Never seen one before.

Looks like a Brake Tender.

[jdando]

Originally Posted by strokedbeast

What's the 1/2 locomotive for? Never seen one before.

Originally Posted by 45689ajax

Looks like a Brake Tender.

My train buddy just told be it is a "slug" or for our viewers across the pond "brake tender"

Here is a link to a wiki on it click me


Basically it traction motor (no diesel) and it gets its electric power from a host locomotive to increase the traction/braking of the train.

This one was working the hump.

I guess I learned something today

[strokedbeast]

Thanks Jeremy, I also learned something today, and you were the teacher. Here in central Illinois I never dream of something like that.

[highv0lt6ge]

Originally Posted by jdando

My train buddy just told be it is a "slug" or for our viewers across the pond "brake tender"

Here is a link to a wiki on it click me


Basically it traction motor (no diesel) and it gets its electric power from a host locomotive to increase the traction/braking of the train.

This one was working the hump.

I guess I learned something today

Thats basically what a slug is. Train engines are diesel electric, that is, they have a large diesel motor that turns a generator, than then in turn powers electricity to turn traction motors, which finally move the train. At slow speeds, like in yard service, desiel electric engines do not 'use' all of the available electricity that it can generate. So they developed a 'mother' and 'slug' unit. The mother locomotive supplies the excess electricity to the slug, which does not have a engine, only traction motors. It's basically just a powered concerete slab. These type of units are only good at slow speeds, once you get over a certain speed (I think 30ish) the mother locomotive no longer has extra power to spare.

[tubawxman]

I went to this location a few weeks ago when BNSF 9647 was in town. That fence makes photos darn right impossible with a dSLR. Had I had my S3IS with me, I could have put the lens through the fence. BNSF 9647 is commonly referred to as the 'Barf Bonnet' or 'Vomit Bonnet' due to its one of a kind paint scheme. Having shot off 44th St and St. Anthony Parkway now, I'd have to pick St. Anthony Parkway due to the lack of a fence, but 44th has the shops. I especially like #5 out of this set. I'm a fan of the heat distortion.

[John Trogdon]

Good job Jeremy.

#5 and #7 are my favorites.