That has to be the strangest lookin car I've ever seen. Can y'all tell me what it's for? I've seen strange git ups that logging companys have made, but never by a big time railroad.
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| Posted by PaulC on July 26, 2008 | |
Nice shot. I Googled the car number and it turns out that it's used to enable remote control on a loco that doesn't have it installed...
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Remote control platform.....couple this to any locomotive and it is automatically a remote controlled locomotive.
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| Posted by lumpum on July 26, 2008 | |
It's a "shoving platform" CSX uses it to remotely control locomotives that are not set up for such. The operator with a belt pack sends commands to a receiver on the platform car and the car sends the signals to the locomotive. Some railroads use an old caboose (MMA). If you look close at the car you can see a main reservoir tank and a horn. the Locker just holds parts and hoses
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Cool shot Frank, you don't see much from down that way at Vera.
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This looks to have been made from a surplus pulpwood car and we all know that there's lots of them around due to paper mill closings. The design of the front end seems to be reinforced and equipped for riding, but has no weather protection. As we used to say "This may be good in a pinch, but don't pinch too hard or in this case too often". I wonder if this is controlled from the ground or from a tower. The strobe lights, head lights and horn are very similar to the same items on Norfolk Southern's newly rebuilt yard slugs. Thanks for giving us something to think about, and thanks for the posting.
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Cool looking car, its much different than the shoving platforms we have up here in New Jersey. To see whats used up this way, take a look at photo 202631.
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Neat shot Frank! I have never seen one of these shoving platforms before until I saw your photo and then what are the chances, I saw one today! It was headed south on the end of a train in Acworth, GA on the W&A sub.
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