Weird thing I saw

Friday I saw something rather weird on the NS Columbus, OH - Bellevue, OH track, about 3 miles south of Bellevue going north. It was kind of like one of those pickup trucks that have train wheels.....only it was more like a semi.....and it was pulling 4 tall gondolas and some other thing behind them I couldn't see well.

I've had some pretty weird dreams involving trains in my lifetime...and when I first saw this thing I though I was dreaming for a moment

anyone know what this might have been?

 

I believe they're called 'Brandt Trucks' and they use them instead of a work train for things like putting out new ties and tie plates. No your not dreaming.

 

thanks...I just did a google image search for "Brandt Truck" and saw several pictures of the same kind of thing I saw

 

Sounds very similar to what CSX was using while rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.

 

Another tool to eliminate train crews is how we see them. The MOW guys now have to do what used to be done with a work train, including hauling their own gons around. Sometimes they get pilots from T&E but not always. Grrrrr!