What is this? Why is it in the midwest?

[Rusty Spike]

I found this this sitting quietly on a siding on a business trip today. What and why?

 

[Fred_M]

That's where I left it! No idea bud. Fred

 

[60103]

RMSX is Harsco Track technologies. Pandrol Jackson was a company that ran rail grinding trains. Formerly Speno.
RMSX 0401 is one of the locomotives from their train RMS-4. Ex CR GP38 rebuilt by Speno with an extended cab and a cowl-type body.
Somewhere, there should be a train with 2 coaches, a couple of tank cars, 3 grinding cars and 2 power cars, and a mate to 0401.
(Info from Canadian Trackside Guide 2004)

 

[Rusty Spike]

Very good - I googled PJ and found this:

 

[Rusty Spike]

Here's some more insight - the unit was sitting on Fairmont Tamper/Harsco property in Fairmont, Minnesota. They were working on building or re-building one of these grinding trains. Two friendly workers told me this was the water car that follows the grinding cars - it sprays water to douse fires started by the sparks from the rail grinding process. The water is car was hooked to a crew car painted in the same bright yellow.

 

[Rusty Spike]

A few more pics. . . Also, there's quite a bit of info on an anti-trust case, US vs. Harsco/PJ and Harsco was ordered to sell it's rail grinding (specifically switch and crossing grinding assets). ???

 

[railohio]

TRAINS magazine did an article on a rail grinder a few years ago and it may have been the Pandrol Jackson outfit. If I come across the article I'll let you guys know what issue it was in.

 

[Rusty Spike]

Thanks BS - I would appreciate that.

 

[60103]

The passenger cars in the trains are ex- GO transit coaches (the 1967 single deckers). Each train has a sleeper and a diner.

 

[Rusty Spike]

I wondered about the sleepers - the cars have at least 10 AC/heating units on top - just like you would see on a camper/motor home.