While in Cincinnati recently, an NS GP38-2 #5153 pulled two maroon colored RESEARCH cars by me. The first car looked like it had been a locomotive at one time, and it had 6 axles. The handrails sure looked like a GP38, but it had one extra axle. It's fuel tanks had been removed and replaced with a smaller tank making a long gap underneath. It was numbered NS 34. The roof sloped down and up again. Just a smalll area so to speak. There was a "passenger" car too, numbered NS 33. It was hard to tell whether it had been a passenger car, combine, or baggage car because it had been made over to where there was one standard car door at the front end and one window next to it. The length I guess (70-80 ft?) made it an old passenger car. The next window was about dead center, but it was a small one, as was the one on the end of the car. The next window was taller followed by a bay window followed by four more tall windows. The rear end of the car had an old fashioned end with a platform, overhanging roof, standard windows and door. Well, nicer than the front end anyway! And 2 nice red lights, and 4 headlights on the end of the jutting roof. There were two ditch lights at floor level on the back of the car. Now, would this be NS's own version of Serry equipment or something different maybe?
What you saw was the NS track geometry train for measuring and recording track profile. The track geometry slug, NS 34, originally started off its life as Norfolk and Western SD35 No. 1530, delivered in 8/65. It was demolished in a wreck at Lynchburg, VA in in 5/76 when it hit a standing ballast train at track speed. It was rebuilt by the N&W Roanoke Shops and outshopped as N&W RP-E6 (Remote Power - EMD 6-axle) road slug No. 9921. This unit and sister 9920 (rebuilt from a wrecked Erie Lackawanna SDP45) were each mated between a pair of SD45 masters. The 9921 was renumbered to N&W 9951 in 5/81. Following the N&W and Southern Railway merger in 1982, the slug became NS 9951. It was retired and placed into storage in 10/89 and then leased to the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway in 5/90. It was returned from the W&LE in 9/92 and once again retired and placed into storage. In 7/94, the NS Roanoke Shops began work on the 9951 to convert it for track geometry operations. Work on the unit took place over a period of five years when things were slow in the shops and it was finally released as NS 34 in 7/99. The slug carbody had been rebuilt with taller areas at each end, the fuel tank had been shortened, the traction motors had been removed with track measuring devices added to one truck, and a generator had been installed in the carbody to power the measuring equipment. The unit was painted in NS tuscan red and lettered in dulux gold. I can't find my data on NS Research car No. 33, but if I recall correctly this car was purchased from Union Pacific specifically for conversion to track geometry duty. Those wishing to see these cars can do so by following this link to a feature just posted on E. M. Bell's website: NS Research Car 33 & Slug 34 Chris Toth
Wow! Thanks Nash! Great info! Yep! That's them alright! Sorry I don't own a scanner or I'd have my photos posted. I could have used some of that sunshine that day too!
Obvious question, Rule. Who does the cooking????????? That train makes it's rounds huh? Works it's way into NY? I'm still in shock over a NYS&W engine I saw down there! Could anyone explain why it's so far from home? I hear it's been sighted there before. I didn't think they had enough engines to be loaning them out.
Just for further information: That old coach has a great kitchen in it and they feed the train crew really well. I gain weight everytime I catch that job. LOL.
If I can get back there, I do. Even if it's only a sandwich, it sure beats crushed grip food. Unfortunately, there's usually lots of officials on it though so I like to keep a low profile and stay up front. What NYS&W engine are you seeing? They run down the Tier to Jersey but no place else that I know of (which means anything is possible).
Rule, I was in Cincinnati in the pouring rain, freezing cold, my camera broken and Ed's camera locked in the car as he went to find a phone book with the name of a nearby camera shop, and I just looked up to see a NYS&W engine passing by up on the trestle right behind me! It was deadheading with a CSX unit also. I was so surprised that I don't think the unit's number even registered in my mind. All I know is Ed saw the tail end of it as it was moving out of sight. I was floored! More angry about my camera too than if someone made me eat crushed grip food everyday for a week!
