Eastern Railroad Discussion > Calf seen on the Three Notch RR, Andalusia, AL

I saw this interesting piece on my last trip home to visit the parents. Have never seen it run and am not sure if it is in working condition. The Three Notch RR runs from Andalusia, AL to Georgiana, AL where it connects with CSX.

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smaller photo

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THat is a GE built Slug that was produced for Seaboard and used with U36B and B36-7 some years back. The actual name escapes me at this time.

Chessie_8563 wrote:

> THat is a GE built Slug that was produced for Seaboard and
> used with U36B and B36-7 some years back. The actual name
> escapes me at this time.

I think they were called MATEs (Motors for Added Tractive Effort).

MATE is the correct term. That MATE sat around in the Sequatchie Valley RR deadline at South Pittsburg, TN for quite a long time. Never operated there that I am aware of. Three Notch is the new operator of the old Alabama & Florida trackage, or a portion thereof, correct? Makes me curious if Mr. Abernathy of the SQVR is affiliated with this operation now that 5211 is on the scene. Anyone know for sure?

Mike Derrick
Atlanta,GA

SP_8299 wrote:

> Chessie_8563 wrote:
>
> > THat is a GE built Slug that was produced for Seaboard and
> > used with U36B and B36-7 some years back. The actual name
> > escapes me at this time.
>
> I think they were called MATEs (Motors for Added Tractive
> Effort).

And they were only set up to work with the U36B's.
I'm pretty sure none of the B36-7's had the
extra cabling needed to run the slug. Also, a
minor teminology nitpick, a calf is a cabless
switcher (with an engine), where this unit is
a slug (no engine, only traction motors, getting
the power from the mother unit).

Here is CSX 5211 when it was still on the property of the Sequatchie Valley RR. Taken at South Pittsburgh, Tennessee Summer of 98'.

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Chessie_8563 wrote:

> THat is a GE built Slug that was produced for Seaboard and
> used with U36B and B36-7 some years back. The actual name
> escapes me at this time.
>

These were not built for the Seaboard. They were built for the Seaboard Coast Line, big difference there. They were originally assigned to and used in Bone Valley where their additional tractive effort was very useful in starting the very heavy wetrock phosphate trains. I am just about sure that MOST, but not all, remained assigned there for the majority of their service lives over the course of 3 railroads. They were in service for Seaboard Coast Line, Seaboard System and CSX. Also, they were not built for use with B36-7's. The B36-7's were generally assigned to high priority trains and not to Bone Valley. Up to the formation of CSX, Bone Valley was often THE place where units were assigned to run out their last years in service.

Regards,

Denis F. Blake
Columbus, OH
TTHOTS

They found themselves replaced by Road Slug sets in the early 1990's and finished their days romaing around mostly on locals. They spent about 2-3 years working in this duty.
Larry

denisfblake wrote:


> These were not built for the Seaboard. They were built for
> the Seaboard Coast Line, big difference there. They were
> [%sig%]


Seaboard, SCL... all the same to this Chessie fan :D

Actually thanks for the info everyone.

I used to see a lot of them up here in Alabama on work trains and a lot of road freights. There was a while where you would see them all the time. It sure is nice to still see one out there.