Looks like an old GMC truck, adapted to rail for a scrapping operation.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAILROAD-PHOTO-NEGA ... otohosting

This is fascinating. Imagine the lawsuits here.

I am assuming that this contraption would belong to the salvor and not to any railroad company. I'm guessing this flat is not equipped with air brakes and just has a hand crank wheel to apply brakes as I don't see any air tank, etc. on the truck. I'm also assuming this must be pretty flat country. Can you imagine a flat full of rail pushing you down hill in this converted truck with just the truck's rear wheel brakes available but apparently no additional weight added above them? Scary. . .but I'm sure there were lots of situations like this way back when.

Looks to me like the truck and crane were used to lift the rails onto the car. Under that type of operation, the truck's existing wheel brakes and transmission would be plenty to control it. If you look at the rear of the truck, it does not appear to have any coupler.

There is probably a drawbar arrangement from the back of the truck to a slot in the knuckle or else the knuckle is butted up against the frame of the truck. In the second case the winch cable and maybe some chain would be used to tow the car. The car wheels are probably chocked while loading so the car won't move (much). The flat's air hose would be out of sight behind the truck's frame. I suspect that the truck can handle the one flat without difficulty, after all the Army used jeeps and half tons of that era as switchers.

GME