Heading out for lunch today I saw a pretty long train running along 7th street in Harrisburg.

Tucked in between the 4 widecabs and the geep was a slug numbered 974-with what sure looked like ALCO notches on the nose.

Is this gelding an old ALCO? Perhaps one of the old MT-4's from Conrail?

superheater@rrmail.com

Hey

Keep giving hints on your location and we'll find out who you are before too long...

My guess is that it MIGHT have been the Allentown yard slug, a cut-down 6 axle ALCo (RSD4/5?). Might be going to Enola for work, or to die, interesting site in either case. Anywone need a set of nice ALCo trucks?

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

I suspect that what you saw was one of several sets of hump engines from either Allentown or New Jersey going to Enola for monthly inspection. It was probably an SD-38 ahead of the slug. I used to see these pairs in Allentown and on the local train out to Alburtis fairly regularly.

> My guess is that it MIGHT have been the
> Allentown yard slug, a cut-down 6 axle ALCo
> (RSD4/5?). Might be going to Enola for work,
> or to die, interesting site in either case.
> Anywone need a set of nice ALCo trucks?



K4s1361@hotmail.com

> Hey

> Keep giving hints on your location and we'll
> find out who you are before too long...

> Somehow I think you already know.. if not think "chainsaw"

superheater@rrmail.com

Most, if not all of those beasts received EMD trucks along the way.

Someone ought to grab up of the remaining ex-NS
TrainMaster slugs. The trucks and platform are all
there. All you have to do is a build a cab, long hood and short hood.

Hell, I could do that in my wood shop !!!

> Hey

> Keep giving hints on your location and we'll
> find out who you are before too long...

> My guess is that it MIGHT have been the
> Allentown yard slug, a cut-down 6 axle ALCo
> (RSD4/5?). Might be going to Enola for work,
> or to die, interesting site in either case.
> Anywone need a set of nice ALCo trucks?

> Dave Crosby


locoeng@verizon.net

"chainsaw, dont make it too easy on him!!"

midh91@hotmail.com

The mighty 974
The 974 is what Conrail called a "slug" or T6 trailer.
They were made from old Pennsy Rs11s they also had 4 axle versions T4's and were mated to Geeps and I think were choppped down geep locos. Long time since I was in Conway. As for the 974 it was "smoked" at Allentowns westend and going west to Conway for repair The train you saw was the 34a Allentown to Baltimore by way of the Portoad branch. The "junker" engines go with this train daily for repair and MI( Monthly inspections and the 90 day inspections ) thats what do mostly do at Enola Diesel anymore. Hopefully the 974 will return fixed as its mate the "mothe" is usually attached to a HMLK 9004 SD45 or Solo. The 9004 or "painted whore" does't load and is used for braking power.
Speaking of which the slugs do not have Alco style trucks but rather EMD triple clasp brakes on them.
As for the former NS Trainmaster slugs at least 3 went to RMDI in Pittson last year. with two others going somehere else (where?) And no you can't remake a trainmaster out of them. Trucks and frames are only origonal pieces on them oh yeah and the grab irons. I think people where thinner back then I had a hellava time climbing around them to inspect and get handbrakes. Hope this helps.

memnon11075@earthlink.net

> The mighty 974
> The 974 is what Conrail called a
> "slug" or T6 trailer.
> They were made from old Pennsy Rs11s they
> also had 4 axle versions T4's and were mated
> to Geeps and I think were choppped down geep
> locos. Long time since I was in Conway. As
> for the 974 it was "smoked" at
> Allentowns westend and going west to Conway
> for repair The train you saw was the 34a
> Allentown to Baltimore by way of the Portoad
> branch. The "junker" engines go
> with this train daily for repair and MI(
> Monthly inspections and the 90 day
> inspections ) thats what do mostly do at
> Enola Diesel anymore. Hopefully the 974 will
> return fixed as its mate the
> "mothe" is usually attached to a
> HMLK 9004 SD45 or Solo. The 9004 or
> "painted whore" does't load and is
> used for braking power.
> Speaking of which the slugs do not have Alco
> style trucks but rather EMD triple clasp
> brakes on them.
> As for the former NS Trainmaster slugs at
> least 3 went to RMDI in Pittson last year.
> with two others going somehere else (where?)
> And no you can't remake a trainmaster out of
> them. Trucks and frames are only origonal
> pieces on them oh yeah and the grab irons. I
> think people where thinner back then I had a
> hellava time climbing around them to inspect
> and get handbrakes. Hope this helps.
Way to many Yeinglings:
Little error it should be MT6 and MT4's oops!

memnon11075@earthlink.net